The Spooky Night Scare Celebration

[de_lux]

Warnings: SPOOPY. Also potential violence and/or drinking.

Location: Various locations in Freesia, especially the Park and Cathedral.

Characters: Anyone and everyone and Lux.

When: Night of September 9

Summary: Most of Freesia is celebrating tonight. Ward off the darkness with lanterns and masks and maybe chat with the local light god.

In a change from their usual behavior, the citizens of Freesia are out and about during the night in order to celebrate another festival.

Called “Spooky Night,” the atmosphere of this holiday may seem familiar to some of Freesia's outsiders. Lanterns patterned after all manner of monsters and other creepy things are visible everywhere, resting on doorsteps, hung from trees, placed in windows, and there are smaller ones strung between buildings and across streets.

Equally creepy masks abound as well. They're mostly worn by the children, but some adults can be seen indulging as well, the eyes and mouths of their masks glowing like jack o' lanterns.

Most of the citizens seem to be enjoying themselves, chatting and laughing with one another, jumping around and trying to scare each other, drinking and buying snacks from opportunistic vendors. Many of the festive citizens have gathered at a bonfire in the park, but groups of people can be found just about anywhere tonight.

But despite the party atmosphere, you may want to pay close attention to the city tonight...

A: The masks and lanterns mentioned earlier aren't going to be hard to find. The lanterns are visible everywhere of course, and more can be found for sale in the shops and stalls, alongside a wide variety of masks. Most of the designs are generic monsters, such as ghost or skeletons or werewolves, but if you look around, well... Whatever you're afraid of, if it's something you can put a face or likeness to, you'll run into a mask or lantern of it eventually. Creepy as that might be though, anyone who dares carry or wear their fears will be rewarded with an extra bright glow emanating from it, something that may come in handy if they run into any of the Nox tonight.

B: If you head down to the park tonight, but stray away from the bonfire, you'll notice that the cathedral is active for once. A very small group of citizens has gathered there, primarily consisting of the elderly- and at least one person you may find familiar. There isn't any laughing or drinking going on in this part of town, and everyone in the cathedral is either silent or speaking to each other in hushed tones. As far as can be observed, they've gathered here to place candles and flowers everywhere.

C: Autumn isn't quite here yet, but the nights have been getting longer lately, the shadows deeper. Don't wander too far tonight and if you do, take care to bring some light with you. The Nox are especially active tonight and will happily attack anyone who wander into the shadows, local or not, not to mention breaking anything they can get their shadowy hands on. A few of the bolder groups will even stray to the edges of the festival in order to knock down the decorations. They're in a vicious mood tonight, but if you thought to pick up an especially spooky lantern or mask before confronting them, their viciousness will evaporate and you'll have them running scared instead.

Comments

[exuviiated]

"I guess! You might have something different, I don't know."

The glow fades away and he swings his lantern a few times.

[barb_notbabs]

"So, how'd you figure it out?"

The million dollar question. She stood under the light of his lantern, determined to get some sort of answer if it killed her.

Or failed to, hopefully.

[exuviiated]

"I just, kind of..." he waved his hands in a vague gesture. "Trial by fire. Got attacked by Nox spiders in the library."

Hopefully she believed him, because that was all he could remember of discovering it; everything else was trying to handle it.

Sorry! Got a new job. Adjusting to schedule. ;;;

[barb_notbabs]

Did she have a reason not to believe him? ..Not that she knew of. So.

"So I just have to get attacked, huh? That shouldn't be too hard, here."

I hope you job goes well! i understand job troubles :'l

[exuviiated]

"If you want, we can-- I dunno, try and take down some of those dogs?"

They were about the same size as the spiders, and he'd been able to take those down, albeit with help.

Thanks! It's time consuming, but not bad.......

[barb_notbabs]

She hesitated. She wasn't really wearing her costume, right then. Maybe it wasn't the best time to show off her skills.

"...Maybe later. Way later."

Re: Thanks! It's time consuming, but not bad.......

[exuviiated]

"--kay. You know where I live, right? If not-- you have an eyeglass, right? I'll send you my address."

Re: Thanks! It's time consuming, but not bad.......

[barb_notbabs]

"Thanks. I'd like that." He can have a smile. She's definitely oblivious to his origins.

Re: Thanks! It's time consuming, but not bad.......

[exuviiated]

--aaaand, address sent. He shared the smile and started to peel off from her, lantern swinging idly. "See you later then, I guess? Or we can go now, if you wanna see it in the dark." Joking, of course.

Re: Thanks! It's time consuming, but not bad.......

[barb_notbabs]

"Maybe later... are you going to be safe getting home?"

[exuviiated]

"I think-- wouldn't object to some company, either way."

[barb_notbabs]

"Just to make sure you don't die." It wouldn't be very heroic of her.

[exuviiated]

"Making sure I don't die should be a paid, full-time job. I make lots of bad decisions." It's joking and light, but something like that shouldn't be treated as such. "My place is kinda a mess, because I haven't done my cleaning yet, so I hope you don't mind."

[barb_notbabs]

She almost stumbled, her mind skipping a beat as he spoke. Why would she be seeing his room?

"I was thinking of escorting you to your door."

[exuviiated]

"-yeah? I was gonna invite you in for some coffee or something, as thanks, but you don't have to if you don't want to."

Nothing but good intentions, here! Too many creepy things about for him to join their ranks. Again.

[barb_notbabs]

"You have a coffee maker?" coffee did sound pretty... delicious wasn't quite the right word.

Necessary.

Life threateningly necessary. That was the right word.

[exuviiated]

"Yeah. Cheap, breaks down a lot, but it still works. And I don't use any of that de-caf stuff. I used to be in college."

And that should explain it perfectly.

[barb_notbabs]

"So what did you study?" She's still supposed to be in college.

Though it's a little relief not to be training in gymnastics, going to college, and fighting crime all at the same time.

[exuviiated]

"Believe it or not, I was in med school. Second year, even." He sighed. " I miss it. I mean, this is the most sleep I've gotten in years but still..."

[barb_notbabs]

"Huh. I haven't really picked a major, yet..." What did one take when they wanted to be an Olympic gymnast and a super hero?

Phys ed didn't really have a lot left to teach her.

"I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have coffee if we needed sleep, that much."

[exuviiated]

"Well put." He managed a laugh. "So, I have something close to a Kona blend, but it's not quite. If you're absolutely sure you don't want some coffee, no pressure."

He turned down the street leading to his door, keeping his pace slow and easy.

[barb_notbabs]

"Maybe one cup..." Though she was a little nervous about going into a room with a guy.

[exuviiated]

"Okay." He opened the door and glanced down to his potted fern, which was angled towards the soft glow of his lantern. Weird. "So, I have sugar, but no cream or anything. Is that okay?"

[barb_notbabs]

That didn't make Barb feel any better, actually. SHe didn't need more plants in her life.

"Sugar's fine. Lots of it."

[exuviiated]

"'Kay." He really hopes he's not coming across as a creepy dude, because-- well, a guy inviting a lady into his apartment late at night could be taken in a multitude of wrong ways. "I have stevia, too, if you want that."

He went into the small kitchen area and grabbed two mugs, beckoning Barb over to the counter where the coffee machine was.