it's halloween, lo-ween, everybody!

[sos_pilot]

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!

Comments

[consider8]

Eight gave him a stare, not sure what Ken was doing. For a moment she even tries to copy the moves only to have her knees beginning to bump into each other and her arms moving in a shuffle-stop like he has no idea what he's...

...oh...

Eight laughs a moment. In the next a hand reaches out to clasp his wrist. Two fingers began to tap the rhythm for him. Her movements are much smaller now, but it should get him started on a few leg movements and body sways that were in sync with the beat.

[ourtomorrow]

It was that obvious?

Apparently it was. Ken smiles in silent gratitude for the help, and follows Eight's lead. Oh, so it's....like this, and then....that?

He's still stiff. But he's trying. And he's smiling as he tries, so a good time is being had. This is dancing....

Okay, even Ken knows this is more just "swaying", for the moment, but he's up to trying more. This much has been progress!

[consider8]

There wasn't really anything to dancing. Its just letting your body catch into the rhythm and let it express your inward feelings! And she is very proud of Ken to try something new.

She's getting bolder now, adding a twirl into the mix, letting Ken follow through if he wants.

[ourtomorrow]

Oh, that looks pretty bold, but it's just like sports - that's it, isn't it? If Ken thinks of this the same way where his body responds automatically to the situation on the field, where he has to move by instinct so he can focus on strategizing and predicting -

He follows Eight's twirl, feet awfully sure of themselves but posture still dorkily upright. He's not sure what to do with his arms, either - letting one sort of hang is okay, right...

Hey, look at him, he did it. Ken chuckles and says what's on his mind, caught up in the moment:

"It's like soccer."

[consider8]

Considering Eight is 4'11" to Ken's 5'...something, it must look a sight to have such a tall boy get twirled by a small girl. Nonetheless, Eight is enjoying herself and is delighted at Ken's attempt.

"It is!" Even Octolings knew what soccer was! "There's nothing to dancing, see? You just let your body move and have fun!"

There's something amazing about an activity whose only purpose was itself.

[ourtomorrow]

There really is. The tension in Ken's shoulders eases, though he still has no idea how to hold himself with any posture except "erect". One will never mistake him for a dancing maestro, but he is at least moving more smoothly, if in...rather boring patterns...

So it was this liberating, to dance. And no one is looking except the person he's dancing with, because everyone is relaxing into the music!

"I had no idea!" Ken exclaims, which is probably the most obvious thing anyone has said at this entire party. But at least he's having a good time?

(Meanwhile, Wormmon wiggles through the crowd. Ken-chan? Ken-chan? He fetched more snacks. Where is Ken-chan....?)

[consider8]

With a wink, Eight lets go of Ken and pulls away. Now that he's starting to get it, it's time for her to show off a little. With a pair of pointed fingers, she kicked up her feet and danced the dance of her people.

She's not expecting Ken to follow suit, but why not have a little fun?

[ourtomorrow]

Oh, she's quite....She's quite capable. Ken has a feeling that's a step too far for his current level, but he's willing to softly clap in time with the beat to cheer Eight on. This is....what you do...when you're an audience member....is it not?

"Ken-chaaaaan!"

Oh, there he is. Wormmon scoots up, in a small orange hoodie (he is dressed as Ken-chan tonight), a bundle of gummy snacks in his arms. "Ken-chan, I found more fruit--"

Wormmon realizes what Ken-chan is doing.

Wormmon realizes who Ken-chan is watching.

Wormmon's snacks spill out of his legs onto the dance floor.

[consider8]

The music ends and Eight twirls to a finish. She's grateful for the audience and hoped beyond anything that Ken had a good time. Oh sure, he may have two left feet but that was not the point. He experienced something, which was all Eight wanted in the first place.

With a soft giggle, Eight's enthusiasm seemed to wash away and her inhibitions started to return. Despite that, she smiled. "Did you have fun?"

[ourtomorrow]

Oh, that's it...He did it. Ken returns to his normal posture, if slightly looser, and sticks his hands in his pockets. He smiles. "I did. Thank you."

And he lets his smile linger on Eight, the better to show proper gratitude for the lesson.

...Is there...blubbering? Happening at his feet?

[consider8]

Eight is clapping for Ken. Sure, she did better, but he did it! And that--

--hmn? What's that below Ken? Whatever it was, its a good thing that the music stopped or else they could have stepped on it!!

[ourtomorrow]

Ken blushes, looks away, and - oh, no.

"Wormmon?"

"Shnurfle." Amazing, how somebody without a nose can sniffle. "Ken-chan....Ken-chan was dancing."

"...They'll probably play another song," Ken offers. "I'm not much, but if you wanted to--"

"KEN-CHAN'S FIRST DANCE," bawls Wormmon. "AND I MISSED IT!"

Oh, inconsolable day. He tries to wipe his mandibles on his hoodie by flopping the oversized jacket sleeve against his face. This does not work.

[consider8]

The magenta was beginning to rush to Eight's face. "I... I was your first?" Oh... oh dear. Did he ruin a special moment for him? For them? She didn't mean... that is to say...

O-Oh...

Suddenly she worries that she may have done broken some unspoken covenant.

[ourtomorrow]

Oh dear. Ken holds up his hands, not sure who he's hoping to placate more.

"Now, now..." How about a lift up, Wormmon? Would that help? (It would. Wormmon hugs Ken-chan's shirt and sticks his face into it.) "I danced before. You were there for that, weren't you, Wormmon?"

Wormmon thinks about this. "....Mm. The tap. Ken-chan was cool....~"

From the look on Ken's face, that is not the word he'd use for the experience he has just, unfortunately, dragged up for himself. Because he's now remembering what he looked like tap dancing.

Eight is free to imagine this, as well.

[consider8]

Yes, Eight is imagining and... "Heee."

Feeling a bit better that she didn't ruin his first, Eight gives Ken's sleeve a soft tug to pull them out of the dancing floor, back to where it is safe.

[ourtomorrow]

Ken grins sheepishly and lets himself be tugged. At least that was a long time ago, long enough that he is almost over it. (Almost.)

Wormmon is looking at the tug, though. "Hey. Were you two dancing TOGETHER?"

[consider8]

"A little." Eight chuckled to Wormmon inquiry. Though it was more like Eight was teaching and Ken was studying...

"I forced him into it." She was okay with accepting full responsibility.

[ourtomorrow]

"What's with that?"

Wormmon has heard people use this phrase. It seems appropriate. Ken, sensing a hint of a brewing huff, realizes what's going on.

"Wormmon..."

The Digimon is on a roll. "You're holding his hand now, too! If you're gonna kiss Ken-chan, you have to ask ME first!"

There. That is the best and non-jealous way to handle this. Being passive-aggressive about this sort of thing has not stopped it in the past, so Wormmon is learning! He's a SMART DIGIMON.

[consider8]

H-Huh...? What's all this about? Is this bug a whirling storm of insecurities or is it possible he is just impossible to please?

W-Well, they just had a nice dance. There's no sense of getting huffy and defensive. "...I think you have the wrong idea. If we were going to stay out there, we could have gotten hurt by other dancers."

"We were just having fun. There was nothing romantic in it." She returned her gaze to Ken. "Right?"

[ourtomorrow]

"Mm." Wormmon gets a special smile, just for him. "Now that she's taught me to dance, we can both have more fun."

Wormmon considers this argument. Wormmon takes it deeply, DEEPLY into consideration.

Then, slowly, he inclines his head. "Okay. But I dance next time too."

And he looks at Eight for confirmation. You'll agree, right? Right?????????

[consider8]

Eight gives Ken's sleeve a little tug. "I think he's asking you for a dance. Are you going to leave him like this?"

She didn't feel especially invited to dance along with, Wormmon...

[ourtomorrow]

Ken blinks. "Immediately?"

He eyes Eight like she's a life preserver. Teacher, help! Is he really ready to do this solo...?!

[consider8]

"I don't think I'll hear the end of it if you don't..." As if on queue, the lights dim and there music begins to slow. Oh yeah, if Wormmon was going to get upset over just a friendly dance, there was no way she was going to get caught up with him in a slow dance.

Ah, but Ken has three left feet, so maybe a small primer is in order. "There's nothing to this one. Take your friend and hold him close to your chest. Then slowly sway your legs side to side. Be sure to keep your eyes looking into his." She presented the steps for Ken, a slow rocking back and forth like what a mother would use to bring an infant to rest.

[ourtomorrow]

As Eight's description continues, Ken listens carefully while Wormmon cups his face in his claws. C-can it be....! Is this - is this that moment that pops up in his video games sometimes....?!

Ken tries the steps, but this looks simpler. "All right."

Partner (and dance partner) in his arms, he heads back out to the floor. Close to his chest.....Sway....Look into his eyes.

HALLOWEEN IS WORMMON'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY.

[consider8]

Eight smiled at the two "lovebirds," as they made a couple of loops around each other. Then, just as quickly as she appraoched Ken, the sly octogirl shifted into her octopus form to slide past the nearby chairs and legs.

Let them have their moment; she had taken enough of Ken's time.