Event Twelve

[awashmods]

I am a reaper whose muscles set at sundown. All my oats are cradled.  But I am too chilled, and too fatigued to bind them.  And I hunger.

ou know what's probably amazing? Waking up to your previously normal front door suddenly being covered by a huge, autumn-themed wreath. Or perhaps you're close enough to the center of the Town to look out your window and get an eyeful of that effigy, staring soullessly at you? The point is, there's a festival going on! The Town's been decorated accordingly (don't trip over sudden bales of hay), and towards the center of the Town, there are all sorts of fun games, tables of food, and other amazing things set up. Go prance onto the stage, sample some of the amazing food, convince one of your friends to play one of those bobbing for apples games... Enjoy it! There doesn't seem to be much of a catch this time. (At least, not until you eat the food, and then you'll figure out just what that "catch" is.) Welcome to Awash's twelfth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[thinshadowed]

i. Trick?

[ Ari certainly feels as if a trick has been played on him by some unseen force. Perhaps the same mysterious entity that keeps putting things in his room whenever he completes a quest.

After all, he awoke this morning dressed in a decidedly unfortunate ghost costume. And no matter how he tried, he couldn't seem to take it off? The high heels won't budge, the stockings are all but molded to his legs, and the fingerless gloves cling snugly to his palms. The only part he can seem to move at all is the sheet drawn over his head, and although he can lift it up like a particularly awkward veil... maybe he shouldn't.

He feels like he might die of embarrassment if anyone sees the frilly lacy dress-like top he's wearing with these lacy shorts.

Of course, this is 100% the best time to run into someone he knows—or someone completely new! Talk about first impressions. ]

ii. Or treat?

[ Fortunately, he doesn't have to wear that costume for the rest of his life here in Chroma. As soon as the magic wears off, he switches back to his normal clothes and returns to the festivities.

He's currently curious about the various treats on display. Everything smells so good! But he's also interested in the games, the corn maze, and—well, maybe not the wicker man. He can skip that part.

Maybe your character has a suggestion on what to try first? ]

iii. Wildcard

[ If we discussed a specific scenario already, let's make it happen! For anyone else, feel free to hit me up at evilkingmarz to plot something! ]

i!

[unghost]

[ They spot Ari in a common area of this harvest festival, and they can't help but be Mildly Concerned over that outfit, especially in this weather. Their outfit also doesn't look the warmest, but they completely unbothered by the chilly air, just crossing their arms and giving the other and questioning glance. ]

Aren't you cold in that?

[ They say so, as if he has any choice in the matter. ]

[thinshadowed]

[ Ari usually gets overlooked by most people, thanks to his weak sense of presence, so it figures that now he would draw attention—right when it's the most embarrassing.

He is embarrassed, but it's kind of hard to tell under the sheet he's wearing. ]

> "Oh, um... yes, I am. But the costume won't come off?"

[ He worries that they might think he's wearing this by choice, but... oh, are they wearing a weird costume too? That makes him feel a tiny bit better. ]

[unghost]

[ They want to say, well, yeah, obviously, since everyone's in that boat, but they hold themself back (thankfully). Their eyes narrow slightly as they look over the costume, putting a gloved hand at their hip. ]

Can't you just put other clothes on top of it, then? [ This is obvious? At least, that's how they talk. ] Or is that not possible, either.

[ Now that they think of it, they hadn't exactly attempted that solution... ]

[thinshadowed]

[ That's a good idea, but unfortunately... ]

> "I tried, but it didn't really work."

[ It was hard to pull his pants on over the high heeled shoes he's wearing, but the slide of fabric against his stockings felt so wrong he abandoned the whole idea. And he's already wearing something embarrassing under the sheet, so that didn't work either. ]

> "Are you stuck in yours too?"

ii

[smaaaaaash]

[Toshinori's not particularly hungry, but he does have a non-alcoholic drink in hand and is enjoying (?) the festivities by being stuck in this costume. Hm. At least he put a plain shirt on, even if the rest refuses to come off, but he's kind of hoping no one thinks too hard about the costume choice thrust upon him or asks him too many questions.

When he spots Ari loitering by the treats, he heads over.]

Young Ari! Are you enjoying yourself?

[thinshadowed]

[ Should he try the pie? Or the tart? Maybe cider would be a good place to start... As the boy deliberates, a familiar voice pierces his reverie. Ari turns, immediately brightening when he sees who it is. ]

> "Toshinori."

[ He's happy to see his roommate and kind enough to overlook Toshinori's unusual costume. Ari has one of his own, after all, so he won't be judging anyone else on their attire tonight. Fortunately, he's not wearing his anymore. ]

> "Yes. I was just trying to decide what to sample first."

[ He gestures to the table to sweet apple-themed treats. The caramel apples look good, but maybe they'd be messy to eat... would the tarts be a safe pick? Not quite as big as a slice of pie, he thinks. ]

[smaaaaaash]

[Toshinori offers a warm smile in return, and casts his eye over the selection.] Hmm... I think the apple pie looks delicious! Maybe I'll try some later, myself.

[He's a bit envious of everyone who can just stuff their faces with whatever they want, but it's a feeling he's accustomed to. Seeing people having a good time -- stuck in strange costumes or not -- is still enjoyable.]

[thinshadowed]

> "It does look pretty good."

[ Ari agrees, genially. He'd like to sample everything, at some point, but he may as well start small.

He picks up one of the little plates with a piece of tart on it. Picking it up with his fingers, in lieu of having a fork, Ari takes a bite. ]

> "Mmm..."

[ The boy hums his enjoyment, closing his eyes briefly, before polishing off the rest of it. Licking his fingers, he glances up at Toshinori—and freezes suddenly. ]

i! so how about that first impression

[retrobeats]

[ so Michael can't quite get why the whole Sexy Halloween Costume Craze(tm) has suddenly swept Chroma outside of "it's more Weird Town Shenanigans", but since he's managed to avoid one of his own, he's mostly just rolling with it. rolling with it in a way that's equal parts vague amusement at the poor people who are stuck walking around like that, and vague confusion about why this is a part of Halloween culture that the town's decided to cash in on.

he's busy pondering this very question from atop the safe, out-of-the-way perch of one of the surprising comfy random hay bales that's popped up all over town. and that's when he spies Ari going by, in all his sexy ghost costumed glory.

... sorry, Ari, he's very much staring as you go by. mostly because he's trying to figure out if the ghost sheet is just another terrible piece of the puzzle that is this costume, or if it's an attempt to try and cover up the terrible halloween sexy-ness. please call him out on this gremlin-ass behaviour, i beg of u ]

[thinshadowed]

[ Ari thinks he's doing a good job of avoiding undue attention, despite his ridiculous costume, until he senses a gaze upon him. It's like a prickling flush creeping up the back of his neck, the certain sense that someone is absolutely staring at his complete trainwreck of an outfit right now.

Ari turns, and he spots Michael perched atop one of the hay bales. There's only one thing he can think to say. ]

> "I'm sorry??"

[ Nobody wants this, least of all Ari. ]

> "It won't come off..."

[retrobeats]

[ oh, whoops! he's been caught!

(this is what you get for staring at people, Michael.)

he's wrong-footed for a moment, staring now not because of the costume - well, maybe now only 30% because of the costume. the other 70% is his brain recalibrating itself for the sudden interaction with a mystery person that it's been thrown into. after a moment, though, he finds his voice. ]

Oh man, so they're cursed, too?

[thinshadowed]

> "Yeah... I woke up wearing this, and it won't come off."

[ Although that begs the question— ]

> "What else is cursed?"

[ Is the whole festival haunted?? ]

i

[queenofminiskirts]

[Honestly, she'd trade her costume for his any day. She wishes hers was lacy and sexy instead of covering everything besides her head and hands.

Kaoru bumps into him, then turns with a grin.]

Sorry.

[She's very tactile to begin with, but like. Not always with people she's never talked to, but after eating some of the food, she just links their arms like their old friends already.]

Nice fishnets.

[thinshadowed]

[ If he could make that trade, he would, gladly. At least looking like a hero is cooler than a sexy ghost. Also sorry about pranking your house. ]

> "Oh, um."

[ Ari barely has time to process the apology before she links arms with him, and then there's no escape. He's too nice to pull away, since that would be rude. ]

> "Thanks?"

[ His face burns with embarrassment under the sheet. ]

> "Heels are... hard to walk in..."

[queenofminiskirts]

[It's fine she'd forgive them.]

Yeah, especially if you don't usually wear them. Hopefully you won't have any reason to run until you can get those off.

i.

[messianic]

[Hey what's up.

So like. Minato just really, really wanted to have some of the sweets on the table. Can you really blame him for picking up a caramel apple like this? There's been a sad lack of sweets here in general, and he's just going to savor munching on that for awhile...

And he doesn't even really process that it's making him feel any different, honestly.

In fact, he doesn't process that anything is strange until he's...suddenly just walking up to Ari and taking his hand to hold.

SUP, ARI.

Give Minato a moment to process the costume.]

... Um.

[thinshadowed]

[ Oh. This is awkward.

Ari has been doing his best to avoid attracting attention, hanging back from the rest of the harvest festivities, but Minato manages to pick him out of the crowd regardless.

Maybe because it's hard to hide when you're wearing a stark white ghost costume and fishnet stockings. ]

> "Um."

[ Definitely awkward, for several reasons, although Ari makes no move to pull his hand away. ]

> "Hi?"

[messianic]

[Um.

Yeah.

Minato glances at their interlocked hands and feels absolutely no desire to let go.

A beat.]

Sorry about the costume you got stuck in, Ari-san.

i

[windeity]

[Yes, this is absolutely the most perfect time to run into someone, and unfortunately that someone is John who...just...kind of stops and stares for a second like he's not sure what to say here.]

Um. [That's a nice start.] I am pretty sure there are other sheets around some of the old buildings if that is the look you were trying to go for.

[thinshadowed]

[ Well, this is embarrassing. Ari recognizes John as he approaches, but there's no time to duck and hide anywhere—so the two teens end up exchanging an awkward stare. ]

> "This wasn't exactly my idea."

[ Ari tugs at one of his white fingerless gloves, in demonstration. It refuses to budge. ]

> "And it won't come off?"

[ He's cursed, maybe. Or something. ]

[windeity]

Oh. [He's trying not to laugh, sorry Ari.] This is one of those town things, isn't it? It has a pretty weird sense of humor sometimes. It'll probably wear off soon? How long have you been stuck?

ii

[umbraportation]

[ Nico is already there at the treat table, having taken a few bites of a caramel apple while avoiding the larger food items. He figures there's something going to be weird about this and he might as well start small.

When the teen spots a familiar figure at the table, Nico makes his way over. ]

Hey, Ari. Come to check out the food spread and play some games?

[thinshadowed]

> "Hi Nico."

[ Ari greets the other boy with a smile. ]

> "Yeah, everything looks so good, I'm not sure where to start..."

[ Both the food and the games, honestly. It's all just innocent fun, right? No unfortunate magical effects here. ]

[umbraportation]

[ Last month the event was not that great but this one doesn't seem so bad. Maybe there's a pattern. He almost expected it to be terrible considering certain hints practically declare this to be October. ]

Just start at one end and work your way through. That way you make sure to get everything.

[ They could be logical about it. ]