Spooky Scary Skeletons!

[magpiemythos]

Loki had no idea if any other places were having Halloween bashes, but that wasn't gonna stop him from having his fun! Pub-crawls were a thing if that were the case! The Viper's Pit had been decked out in the spirit of the season, the drinks, boozy and non were themed for the holiday, and aside from the magically drugged glitter one could play with down in the club, there were all manner of edibles.

While the changes were mild inside the building itself, the field had undergone the most changes, from the disappearance of the arena and bathhouse to the forests normally vaguely in the middle distance having been drawn in much closer, ringing a large open field where several bonfires were crackling merrily, each stocked with comfortable places to sit, as well as marshmallows, skewers, and several options for meats to be grilled over an open flame. To the east of the clearing was an expansive-looking corn maze, and standing vigil over it from somewhere in the vague center was a large Victorian-looking house. Anyone who wanted to go snooping would find the maze and home both charmingly haunted by costumed staff looking forward to the chance to scare the pants off some unsuspecting partygoers.

Nothing about the place seems off, or strange. Bats fly about overhead, the moon is large and positioned quite perfectly to make the haunted house look charmingly spooky, and the woods that spread around the clearing are just begging for people to dare to creep down it's paths, jumping at the shrieks that echo from the maze, or just their own imaginations running away with them. Not that there seems to be anything scarier than some mild-mannered wild-life like the owls hooting in the trees- it seems the woods are more designed for a nice nighttime stroll for folks who might want a bit of quiet than anything.

Of course everyone wore costumes. They did right? It's a costume party after all! And if anyone didn't have one, the staff of the bar were quite happy to furnish some of the spares they had on hand, even if it might be something so simple as an animal headband, a pair of wings, or a sheriff's badge and toy gun.

No one was quite certain when things started becoming weirder. Not specifically, and no one was sure why it had happened, given the first sign of things going wrong? Was one of the poor unsuspecting waiters who'd been wearing a cute little bear headband? Was suddenly now a very large, and very confused grizzly bear in a darling little vest trying to balance the tray he'd been carrying on one paw, and attempting to sort out how to get all the drinks off without tipping them onto the customers, who were now a table of animals of varying sizes and shapes, as well as one very bewildered knight, whose plastic armor was suddenly much more realistic and cumbersome.

And from the yelps of surprise and alarm echoing quickly through the Pit and the yard, it was clear this was not an isolated incident.



((ooc: Costume bash! OOC info is here leave any questions in there! Feel free to tag either pre or post-costume realism! For toplevels please use the Trick Or Treat system! If you're just wanting cute fluff or maybe minor spooky stuff, just leave 'Treat' in your toplevel's subject line. If you're here for scary chases and angst, or being a monster to hunt folks for fun (keeping in mind the AVF is in effect!) just post 'Trick'! If you're open to both just put both in! Hopefully this'll make it easier to match up what folks are hoping to play with here even if you're going in otherwise blind. The costumes will revert come sunrise with no ill effects- happy hauntings!))

Comments

[angelic_asshole]

"Now, which of you is my Jack? Oh, this is a very good trick indeed."

Walking up to both men the angel frowned and squinted, trying to determine which man was his lover. They looked so alike! It was almost impossible to tell due to their feminine features and handsome jaw line. Yes, that was something Balthazar loved about Jack. Onyx was sleeping back at the apartment so it was no good relying on a dog's nose to tell the men apart.

"Perhaps if I place my hand where both your hearts are then it might give the game away?"

Glancing between both men, he wondered if Jack was inwardly laughing at the angel's obvious confusion.

[apocalypsejack]

The two Ziggys were in the midst of another heated discussion when Balthazar comes up. Both of them turn to the angel and look him over with a grin. The problem with muddled memories is there was no choice in which ones.

The closest one steps down from the barstool to give Balthazar a hug and the other Ziggy is right there snatching his shoulder to stop his twin from hugging the angel.

"That's my angel." There's a scowl accompanying the words.

"Yours?" The huff of indignation accompanying the words is almost childish. "You're jealous."

"Of what? That you can't remember who you're sleeping with?" And they start bickering in a way that is feminine and terse.

Diamond looks up from where she was laying beneath the bar stools. Seeing the angel she jumps up to get pets. He masters have the poor dog equly confused but the angel still smells like himself.

[angelic_asshole]

The angel's expression is one of amusement and outright exaspiration as to which Jack is his. Seeing Diamond get up to greet him gives Balthazar a little break from the bickering twins. Goodness, what a party this will turn out to be indeed!

"Here, girl. Can you tell which is my Jack? I can't for the life of me decide which I should kiss and which I should shake hands with."

Glancing up from offering Diamond a good scritch behind the ears he frowned once more before chuckling softly. What a predicament indeed. Also, the bickering. They were like two girls Balthazar once knew back at his strip club, fighting over tips and the like.

"Please, boys. A little more decorum while you fight over me, hm? There's plenty of angel to go around for both if that suits you."

The question is which was his Jack? There were so alike that even Balthazar's angel senses could not tell them apart. Two handsome men at his disposal. What a fantasy indeed.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

The dog just whines at her master's lover. She hasn't been able to make heads or tails either.

The question stops both of them from arguing for a moment. They look between the angel ans each other, brows furrowed as they speak telepathically. There's a shrug, a scowl, then they start laughing just before the both go and hug the angel. It came down to the fact that the angel deserved a hug and since they couldn't agree on who was supposed to, they could agree on doing it together.

Both wrap arms around the angel's neck but say nothing as they try not to start arguing again.

[angelic_asshole]

Diamond's whining confirmed just how Balthazar felt right now in regards to telling the two men apart. Yet, now they seemed to have stopped bickering for the moment and were hugging him. Both hugging him together. Well, that was something and it felt rather good. Very good.

"That's better. You remind me of a stripper I once knew. She always bickered with her fellow girlfriends over tips and the like. Pretty thing but I always ended up being the buffer between my girls."

He smirked at revealing some of his sordid past before coming to the Nexus as he placed both arms around both men. Now, to try and tell them apart once again. Either through sensory means or perhaps asking them specific questions might reveal the truth?

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"A stripper?" One of the Jacks pull away utterly offended.

"I'm not a stripper." The other protests.

The reveal firmly lost in the dislike of the term. It was definitely a double edged sword to say. Ziggy was never a stripper and Jack made a distinction between the two types of work due to circumstances at home. Neither if them are pleased with the comparison and it shows.

The only thing that stops more arguing is that one, and quickly both, notice what the angel is wearing. There's a moment of stopped breath and then the two are trying to decide who is Jack and who is Ziggy again. It leaves them staring because they don't know, not really.

[angelic_asshole]

The loss of one of the twins now detaching from his bare chest causes the angel to smirk a little. Were they really that offended to have been called strippers? It was noted by Balthazar who was adjusting his spiked leather collar slightly and realising they may start bickering again.

"Alright, sorry, boys. That was a little below the belt of me but a near enough comparison given the circumstances we are facing here. You're both very handsome men but only one of you is my Jack."

Moving to place a hand on the nearest of the two's torsos, Balthazar closed his eyes as he tried to move his hand low to where Jack's heartbeat was. That, or it would be Ziggy's.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

The apology does calm them down a little. The tempers evening out as they still are flustered and frustrated.

Both Jacks bite there lip and look at the other. There is a mutual wish that they could figure it out too. However the gentle hand on the lower back has the closest one leaning in to the touch. Jealousy quickly erupts in the other Jack who comes over and is ready to start a fight, maybe a physical one even.

The problem is, both are agitated so thier heartbeats are going to be relatively similar. Even aside from this Halloween trick they are the same person. It may be hard to tell even for an angel.

[angelic_asshole]

If they did indeed start a fight then Balthazar wouldn't think twice about stepping in and breaking it up. How could he allow both Jacks to fight amongst each other over him? It was very nice but at the same time he didn't want either man hurting each other over him.

"It's still hard to tell. Perhaps if I kiss both of you then maybe I can tell which one of you is my Jack that way."

It was worth a shot. The angel pulled his hand away from one of the twin's chest and frowned. There had to be an easier way surely.

[apocalypsejack]

If the angel listens carefully to the empathic riot of emotions coming off of both of them there might be hints. The tiny fluster of anger and jealousy from the one that looks about to start a fight at the mention of a kiss. It's not loud though, and easy enough to miss.

The two looked at each other, then the angel and frowned. "I don't know. Do we kiss different?"

The Ziggys are asking each other and uncertain. Maybe?

[angelic_asshole]

It was slightly unnerving to know that your lover was somehow split between two men, not knowing which was yours and which belonged to someone else. The empathy though....Balthazar could feel it off both men but it was jumbled. Too hard to pick out Jack amongst the other. Maybe the kiss would help clean the air a little.

"Well, I'm about to find out."

Slipping his arms around the nearest twin the angel began kissing him as he would his own lover. Oh, he could sense the jealousy from the other man as soon as he touched the twin.

[apocalypsejack]

The twin he had leaned into the kiss, passionate and wrapping his arms around the angel. It was the mixed memories and emotions. They both had a portion of the affection for this particular man.

However, that kiss fully blossoms the jealousy in the other twin. It's like a fire inside as he watch Balthazar kiss his twin.

[angelic_asshole]

Breaking off the kiss, Balthazar tried to remain as neutral as possible more for the sake of each twin's feelings. The emotion coming off the watching twin was strong and intense, almost like a passionate burning jealousy. Of course it would be. Someone had to figure this out though for everyone's sakes.

"Alright, you're next, love."

Licking his lips, he offered both men a poker face as he attempted to try to gauge which was his lover. Goodness it was hard. They were so alike! The first kiss felt familiar but would this one too?

[apocalypsejack]

The problem with this method will be obvious quite quickly the passion is there in the kiss and the jealousy from the other twin that was just kissed. Though maybe a little less jealous. Was that due to having been already kissed or was the first one he kissed Ziggy and naturally less invested in the affront to territory?

[angelic_asshole]

Either way, Balthazar wasn't giving up with this method and slipped his hands around the other twin and began kissing him the same way he just kissed the other man. The feelings were once again clouding his judgement and it was near proving an impossible way of telling both men apart. There had to be another way.

Perhaps, if he went for a more tactile approach. Removing the scarves of both men or the patches? That might work.

[apocalypsejack]

They just shrug at each other. Not particularly sober and, really, this wasn't the worst thing that could happen. Still the jealousy lingered for both of them.

"Did you figure out who is who?" The first one asks, and the second one gives Balthazar an expectant look. They had been trying to figure it out for hours

[angelic_asshole]

The angel sighed, exasperated that he couldn't figure out which twin was which even through the techniques he'd just tried. It seemed all forms of touch or stimulation wouldn't work here and he'd have to resort to more simpler means.

"Sadly no. Your empathy...it's too strong since you're the same man. I'll be removing your scarves now."

It was the only option Balthazar could think of aside from pulling off the patches. That would happen next if he didn't find the large scar running along Jack's neck. Many a time had he traced his fingertips along it when they were in bed with one another.

"After all this I'm going to need a drink. Or five."

Moving towards the nearest twin he began tugging at the scarf, loosening it so that it fell away from the man's pale neck.

[apocalypsejack]

The two look at each other like they were idiots when Balthazar mentions the scar. They hadn't even thought about it.

"Why do you think we've been drinking?" It's the first one complaining about it.

The angel will find very quickly that it's the second twin that's his. Ziggy hasn't seen this scar before but frowns at it. Though they are still muddled things are a little clearer now. The truth is that Ziggy and Jack are becoming friends very quickly which might be a good or a bad thing depending on who you ask.

[angelic_asshole]

"It seems I haven't been drinking enough, clearly."

He glanced down to his empty wine glass and rolled his eyes a little. It was all this trickery that had put him off his game since he wanted desperately to help Jack. His Jack. The torment must be almost unbearable for both twins. Right, time for the reveal it seemed. He moved to the other and tugged at the scarf, hoping he would see what he wanted on either man.

"Alright, darlings. Which of you is my handsome Jack?"

Narrowing his eyes he studied both men's necks and spotted the long scar instantly on his Jack. That meant the furthest away was Jack and that he had...kissed the wrong man first. Oops. Well, it was bound to happen, surely.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Should we order you a bottle?" Yes, for these two drinking volumes were measured in bottles.

There were no hard feelings about the kiss just the little blossom of jealous that it caused. Jack picked up his drink from the bar and went to lean into his angel. Now that they kne who was who Jack could introduce them.

"Balthazar, this is Ziggy Stardust. He's a lot like me even when this isn't happening." Jack has warm affection for Ziggy and Ziggy partner for that matter.

[angelic_asshole]

"Please, love."

Balthazar could do with a bottle of scotch right now since glasses of wine just weren't cutting it. Not after what he had to go through to distinguish his Jack from Ziggy. His head hurt a little but it was nothing too taxing. Besides, the kissing had been rather nice. The guy's name was Ziggy Stardust? Well, he had just kissed the guy.

"Ziggy? Well, forgive me for accidentally kissing you. You have good technique there but I do prefer my Jack's lips."

He glanced towards his lover now moving forwards and sliding his hand in so that his fingers threaded with Jack's. Perhaps they could all become good friends since it was obvious both Ziggy and Jack were friends already.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

It's Jack closest to the bar who gets the bottle if scotch and two bottles of whiskey, something Jack and Ziggy shared in common.

Ziggy laughs. "He does have nice lips. I can't fault you."

Ziggy is well aware from having kissed Jack before.

Jack takes hold of Balthazar's hand, thumb tracing over the backs of his fingers. Ziggy watched them and wonders briefly.

Shrugging he comes over to join Jack and his lover but his mind turns to Balthazar telepathically. "We should talk sometime, without your lover."

[angelic_asshole]

The angel will raise a suspicious eyebrow at that and push back any unwanted jealousy that threatened to rise up within him. Both men were friends anyway. Why would there be need to feel jealous if one made out with the other? Balthazar shifted his attention to his leather chained belt for a little, adjusting it above his leather pants with his free hand.

It was then he remembered he had Jack's hand in his, offering up a little squeeze as if for reassurance. Then, Ziggy was in his mind. Oh, telepathy. It had been a long time since he'd felt another voice in his head except for his own.

"Oh? Should I bring a bottle or two? Of course though, if you feel the need to talk then I welcome it."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Jack uses his free hand to pass out bottles and is completely unaware the other two are talking.

Ziggy grins. Don't worry. I've got my own and I'm not stealing yours even if I kiss him sometimes.

Ziggy definitely has the same flirtatious tone as Jack, even over telepathy. You're probably going to need them.

[angelic_asshole]

Taking a bottle from his lover, Balthazar unscrews the cap and takes a good few mouthfuls before swallowing slowly, digesting Ziggy's words regarding their meeting. Part of him inside felt a slight apprehension at the meeting wondering if some part of Jack's life will be revealed that he has no idea about. The not knowing was irking him a little.

"Good to know. He or she is a lucky person to have someone like you, Ziggy. Just like myself and Jack."

Another swig and his attention turned to Jack, offering him a cheeky smile. It was supposed to be a party! Where was the food, if there was any. Reaching over to another table, Balthazar grabbed a bowl of potato chips and offered some to his lover after eating a good handful himself.