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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

See, at least they have the benefit here of not being used to typical horror tropes. Or at least, Inigo doesn't know a single one, so he has no idea what's supposed to be so spooky about this mansion. Other than the fact that it's dark outside? But, you know, that's kind of how nighttime works! Look how calm he is, he doesn't even have to ~~overcompensate~~ point anything out the way Tidus does!

So don't mind him if he just stops for a moment to look at one of the portraits. Clearly that's what this is about, right. Like an art gallery!

"You think Kaiba thought up all these paintings as well?"

Tidus gets some of the mood going on here, though the architecture is beyond him. Zanarkand totally has better holograms, okay. Look at this, he can put his hand through the wall and see some glitching around it! But also, that's just what happens when you live in a futuristic city. (Sigh, what a tragedy!)

Though as they stop, with Inigo commenting on the paintings; most of them in dark colours, leaving the upper section of the heads in darkness... there is something that's familiar about them. He can't quite put his finger on it though. Somewhere in Spira...?

But oh, Inigo's question. "Uhh...I guess so." Hmmm. "Maybe he has a design artist? His company makes all these, so maybe it's from one of his--machines?"

He rolls a hand as he says that. You know, Inigo, how data can just be stored for later use in devices!

Ah, yes, of course! How data can just be stored for later use in devices. How could he not see that!

Except obviously Inigo has no idea what Tidus is going on about. In fact, his attempt at an explanation here is more confusing than any of this other haunted house stuff is. Inigo gives him a look that seems to indicate as much too - that he has no idea what the other is on about.

And with the road his brain is leading him down, the question that he ends up asking is:

"Can machines just do anything in the worlds you guys come from? Do you guys even do anything yourselves anymore?" Because it sure doesn't feel like it! Machines making paintings? You're going to put everyone out of a job! "I'm surprised there weren't machines blitzballing for you."

What happened to trying to have a spooky thread here, Inigo! You're ruining everything with your mechanophobia!!

"You're thinking about it all wrong." Ugh! "It's like-" let him wave out his hands non-helpfully here "-you have to make the art that goes into the machine too! A machine doesn't just know how to make a painting. You have to put that in! With like... code. It's all tech stuff!"

Because how is he supposed to describe any of this with anything better? Does Inigo even care that deeply, or is he just in uncertain awe of what the future can be like? But maybe Tidus does feel the need to defend that future some. That's his life!

"You can play digital versions of blitzball, but it's not the same as with real people. Having the crowds watching you, cheering on your favourite teams, the energy and stakes! When it's digital, you just watch it on screens or projectors. Like the cinema car, or a smaller version of this."

This hologram tech going on now, which he motions to with both hands, bringing them together into a ball.

"You can watch stuff off a screen in Zanarkand. See all angles of it. But that's boring. Real blitzball is way more fun!"

"Okay."

Inigo holds out a hand towards Tidus. But not to offer it, or to grab a hand or anything else like he usually might. No, this is just a flat palm being held out to him. A universal 'stop' signal.

"Please stop saying more words before I get even more confused." How was he even supposed to follow any part of that explanation?! Put it in? Tech stuff? Code? Projectors?!

Please, only one thing at once, dude!

"I'm fairly sure I'm never going to understand all of these things anyway. It's just too.." His voice trails off, like he's thinking, but then he shakes his head. Still staring at the paintings. ".. different. Even if it may make me seem like an idiot."

Because the amount of people used to this weird technology versus the amount of people not used to it on the train is way skewed. Thanks for making him look dumb just because he's medieval, train.

"So I'll just trust you on actual blitzball being much better. I wasn't even aware there really was a machine sort of blitzball!" HE WAS JUST MAKING A JOKE. How is any joke you make about the technological future just instantly true.

Tidus goes for the other universal sign of putting up both of his hands, conceding. Look, he's not used to even getting to say half this stuff to anyone! Do you think anyone would have given him the chance to speak about VR machines back in Spira?!

"I'll try and show you one day. How about that." A machine blitzball as Inigo puts it. There's got to be something he can buy... either for the VR machine in the games room or- or maybe Webs will let him buy one for her gaming console! If anything exists. "But you're not stupid. It's just...different lives. I get it."

And maybe he's not about a guy calling himself dumb over what Tidus had to suffer back in Spira.

"Also," getting back to their surroundings, though Tidus only offers it a tip of his head, "I think we're ruining the spooky spirit of this haunted house."

Maybe Inigo is just going to call himself dumb anyway, huh! What do you think about that!

But before he can say anything at all about either his own technological understanding or Tidus's promise to show him virtual blitzball one day - a thought Inigo actually finds himself kind of liking, if not just since it seems to be such a big thing to Tidus - any and all words die in his throat at that last statement.

Inigo's cheeks glow slightly pink in shame.

"W-- Well, then maybe they should have made it spookier to begin with!" Yes, it's clearly to blame on the faulty quality of this haunted house, and not just that Inigo's thoughts can't seem to stay on one thing for longer than a few minutes. "What's even scary about a bunch of paintings, huh? We had paintings back in our castle!"

"Ohhhh, you hear that, projection? Inigo's saying your haunting sucks!"

...which would be the accurate mood for an actual building than just one made up, but who's going to tell him off?? The digital coding? Tidus is always happy for any excuse to be loud, picking up a pace again to see what the spook for this will be.

"Dellllllaaaaa! Inigo's gonna come and take over your Halloweeeen!"

"Wha-- T-- Tidus!"

Inigo doesn't even sound scared. No, this is just the usual Inigo Fluster Fit. It doesn't help that he was already embarrassed about ruining the mood, but now Tidus just has to go and be himself in the middle of this haunted house! Now who's ruining the mood, huh!

Maybe the guy shouting as he's walking, with Inigo following close behind - his cheeks still red, his arms flailing as if that will somehow help shut up Tidus.

"Come on, you can't tell Della! I-- I don't want her to feel bad about this not being good enough! She really--"

Inigo doesn't speak more than that.

Because a moment later a pair of ghostly arms lean out of one of the portraits, grabbing at Inigo. And while usually that wouldn't startle him, the last thing his mind was on in the middle of his fit is the spooks waiting for them.

So he lets out a yelp, stumbling forward and only last-minute maintaining his balance by latching onto Tidus - arms wrapped around the other guy's waist, Inigo's chest (and therefore skin, thanks to the costume) fully pressed against his back.

When you're being an over-the-top goof, you usually know you're being one. Tidus does anyway (what, stop snorting), and that's his whole point now. Something good is bound to happen, either with Inigo or their surroundings -- that's how it always goes! Head swinging around, searching for the next spook to try and get him again.

--but it's Inigo that does, clinging on and pushing him forward. Stumbling him, a ringing of 'whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa!' leaving him as he attempts to get his balance, succeeds-!

And from below, the floorboards beneath their feet 'break' apart as more hands come reaching from below. Tidus slams a foot back to try and get out of the way.

And stomps on something less protected than usual, when gifted ~~dancing~~ genie shoes with their outfit for the night.

"Ackkk-- Aah!"

That's not a shriek of horror, mind you. Inigo is not afraid. Instead he's just stumbling around blindly, entirely unable to see what's happening around him with the way he's still clinging to Tidus once the other starts moving.

The first real sensation he feels again is a foot suddenly coming down on his own foot - hard - and that's exactly what pulls that scream out of him.

Inigo lets go of Tidus, falling backwards onto the floor. The projected spooky ghost hands still try to swipe, though the projections are just going straight through him now as he's lying there, eyes closed.

Inigo has fallen.

And he has chosen to not get back up.

UGGH WHY DO THINGS KEEP POPPING EVERYWHERE AND TRYING TO GET IN THEIR SPACE!!

Is it Tidus's fault he's used to moving out of the way of anything suddenly coming for him? But he does realise-- or doesn't even need to, by the sound of crash behind him -- that his foot trod on something. So he looks back, sees the crime scene below him, the hands continuing to come out and swipe now and then at the Inigo.

"Oh man, sorry!" ah shit, didn't mean to step on your foot bro. "Inigo? You still with me?"

Did you hit your head, bro?? He's leaniiing over him to check him out.

...

...maybe he should try and push open an eyelid from under his brow.

"I'm dead."

He's mumbling with the most defeatist tone ever. Please, are these haunted houses really supposed to be fun? He's not really having fun right now. This is already the second time he's landed on the floor. Somehow these things are more deadly than the battles back home.

Inigo is also still not opening his eyes, but you know, that's less of a concern when he's actually talking. Mumbling. Whichever.

"Just leave me here."

But if Tidus moves even the slightest inch away after he says that, even if it's just to stand upright and look around them or something rather than making any actual moves to leave, he'll feel something latch onto his ankles that is solid.

(Because it's Inigo's hands rather than some projection ghost.)

"Wait--! No, I didn't mean that!" Please don't leave him.

It was the smallest shift! He wasn't going anywhere! And Tidus also figures that's Inigo latching onto him given who it is below, the guy second-guessing himself, the plea that follows unsurprising. Don't worry bro, he won't even make fun of you for it. Instead, Tidus is wondering to himself if this is what the 'spooky Halloween' experience is really meant to be like...

Something tells him, this is just them.

"We can just skip to a different carriage if you want," Tidus offers sympathetically, yet close to flat. He's kinda over all these projections himself now.... he sees no better happening in the others.

At least the cruel sin of accidentally stepping on his foot is already forgiven and forgotten, apparently, since Inigo isn't whining about that anymore. Instead Inigo slowly rises back up onto his feet, though with a lot of 'ughs' along with way until he's upright once more.

"Please," he just replies. It's not even a sarcastic kind of please, oh no, he's honest about this one. Please, let's just get out of this. This isn't even fun. Modern Earth people are so weird. "At this rate the next phase of this whole haunted house thing may just murder me."

And would you let that happen to him, Tidus? To your dear friend Inigo?

There's a hand offered for Inigo to help him the rest of the way up, at least once he's up on his butt. He wouldn't leave you just to climb back up without a hand, bro!

But there's a small chuckle under Tidus's breath at the exaggeration, but he isn't exactly bothered. Tipping his head towards the wall (or where he thinks it is), and turning on his feet.

"Let's try going the way we came. Go through this wall--" the fake one "--and find our way to the door. C'mon, just watch your feet, there's decorations everywhere."

And not just the weirdo hands on the ground trying now and then to get to them. You're five comments back or whatever, hands, can't catch this! They are outta here. And at least once they find the corridor, everything will be a lot lighter. Freedom-!

B-Bro, never let go of that hand!

Or at least not until they're out of this place. Inigo doesn't trust it in the slightest. Not even in a way where he's scared of whatever may pop up - no, that's not the problem here. He just doesn't trust this place to not make him somehow end up on the floor again, so don't mind it if he refuses to let go of that hand after Tidus offered it to him to help him up. It's his now for a while, thanks.

"Are you-- ack," he stops mid-sentence as he only manages to step over a piece of decoration last minute. A good thing too, or else he would have stubbed his toe and hurt it again.. "Are you sure this is the way out?"

Considering this is all inside of the train, Inigo knows that technically they should just have been going in a straight line. But all the weird projections shifting the space sure didn't make it feel that way.

"Sure, it's fine, we're going backwards!" For absolutely sure! When isn't Tidus sure? Though it's forgivable to doubt him with their position not aligned with where the limited projections need them to be, and when everything is just a whole lot of dark and foggy with the odd lights not meant to be seen from their angle. And...

...

...

"...You don't think we're really stuck in a spooky illusion, do you?" Doesn't it feel like it? Is this dumb commentary helpful as they sidle along the wall, one hand used to feel around for the way ahead-

"I.. I don't think so?"

And despite Inigo's uncertain tone, the commentary is helpful. Because he sure feels a lot better just stupidly talking as they move along, rather than stay quiet in these weird surroundings. Everything always feels a bit more rooted when it's absolutely covered in their dumbassery, after all.

"There has to be some way out! Della and Kaiba aren't the kind of people who'd play that sort of prank, right?"

.. Right? Please tell him he's right about this one, Tidus. He doesn't want to be stuck in an illusion, even if it's together with his best friend! (But what if Kaiba really suddenly did have second thoughts about the whole cuddle therapist thing--)

"Della? Della would jump at the chance to play any prank in a heartbeat." Absolutely. He knows what Della is like and supports her wholeheartedly. "Don't know about Kaiba though. Guess if he liked you and you asked him to, so maybe!"

Which is a question he perhaps asks far too seriously by taking it seriously at all, but then, those are his honest thoughts. Does go on after a moment or so,

"But there's no way this is it. They'd talk to us and then tail us in somewhere! Unless..." Unless...!

"Did you see 'em before we came in here?"

There's a doubtful look on Inigo's face. Della would? But she's so sweet! She always compliments him and hugs him, even when he does thinks that are stupid or bad! Sure, she may tease at times, but playing a prank like this..?

"Uh.." He's startled out of that thought and into this new one though the moment Tidus asks that question, making Inigo have to consider it for a moment. "I don't think so?"

It's not as if Inigo was brave enough to go around and talk to everyone yet in this outfit.. He more or less headed straight for Tidus, and that lead them to going in here.

"W-Wait, where is this going though? Unless what, Tidus? Unless what?!"

ok favourite train son.

"Hey hey, calm down!" Tidus stops, initially to turn to Inigo, who's apparently panicking out of nowhere?? Bro? Nothing but good intentions to begin with, touching him on the arms to get him settled down. He's spotted what he's sure is the exit not too far off, remembers a display from when they entered.

...

...

The decision happens in seconds, his brow already heavily drawn, and coming in tighter.

"I-isn't it weird how long we've been trying to get out of here? Inigo... do you think they trapped us in here?"

His expression turns visibly more upset, concerned. I-ingio?!

".. Huh?"

Hook, line and sinker.

Of course Inigo falls for it. Instantly. He doesn't even consider for a moment that Tidus's visibly upset expression may be faked in any way. To Inigo this is just his friend starting to slowly panic over their predicament.

And who would he be if he didn't try to comfort his upset friend?

"N.. No way! Don't worry!" Does Inigo himself truly believe in those words? Not really. He's pretty worried, especially since he hasn't spotted the exit yet. "I'm sure we will be out of here soon! I mean.. we've passed by here before, right? I completely remember this! Uh, this.."

His voice starts to slow down as he realises he can't recognize anything around them right now...

Maybe this wasn't the best attempt at encouraging Tidus, huh.

He won't go very far with this.

"Inigo?!" But he's already started, and he needs to get somewhere before there's the chance Inigo finds his (or their) way out. So he tugs on the other guy's arm, sounds all the more panicked, getting him to face his way, and not in the actual direction of the exit. "Inigo what do we do?! How do we get out?!"

What if he starts pacing around on the spot? Ohhh, look how stressed and worried he is Inigo!!

"We're trapped!"

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo.mp3

"H-Hey! It's going to be okay!"

Honestly, shouldn't he catch on by this point? It's not like Tidus at all to get so worried about something like this, after all. This is not even the way he usually gets when he's stressed!

But any and all logic is quickly overridden in Inigo's mind by his strong desire to help his friend at a moment like this.

So he looks at Tidus, moving his arms to put his hands on Tidus's shoulders, trying to keep him in place for the moment.

"We're together. It's going to be fine, we can figure this out together!" Look at Inigo here, trying to make this Wholesome somehow. "Nothing bad has ever happened to us before while we're a team, right?"

it's halloween, lo-ween, everybody!

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