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

Treat (feel free to interact with both of these two or just Crowley via this tag!)

[notasnake]

Sigh. This really isn't the way Crowley expected to spend his Halloween. It's a holiday for scaring the bejeezus out of all the kids dressed up as ghosts, ghouls, and all sorts of monsters or heroes! But when your ineffable immortal husband partner asks you so sweetly to join in on his fun, you hardly say no.

Especially when you get to rock this look.

Yes, in his corporation's full masculine glory, Crowley is standing to the side trying very hard to play along with Aziraphale's terrible sleight-of-hand tricks as he rocks a dress, heels, and full makeup beneath his usual styled mass of hair. Or he was, until the angel was suddenly good at it. There's no magic or miracles at play, as far as the demon can tell, so... what in Satan's name is going on??

"Say, angel," he says, turning to Aziraphale with a cocked eyebrow, "how much did you say you practiced this past week...?" Because he must be dreaming if the angel is suddenly good when he couldn't manage the 'coin from behind the ear' trick just yesterday.

Banana-knight for Crowley

[knightgallant]

The things Galahad's seen since arriving to the Nexus and meeting the Fallen have more than prepared him for angels and demons appearing in any number of forms that he never would have seen humans take back in Camelot. Case in point, his own partner in currently... somewhere in a tiny, ferocious and armed mouse form, so he's not going to bat an eye at the animated pair of Aziraphale and Crowley putting on a show for the passing partygoers. Galahad claps along with the increasingly complicated sleight of hand tricks on offer, eventually following suit with everyone else and throwing little bits of wrapped candies onstage when the latest performance wraps up.

The knight's met Aziraphale briefly a few times before, but the shiny, lycra-wrapped demon is a new face. Given how closely associated so many of the angels and demons in the Nexus seem at times, he's sure it doesn't hurt to introduce himself. Galahad takes his time thanking both angel and demon for the show, before he eventually turns his attention to Crowley.

It may be a little jarring, being suddenly greeted by a cheerful banana, but that's where we're at, Crowley.

"That was wonderful; You can tell that the little children enjoyed it." Which is a blessing, really, in keeping them calm with so much chaos going on all around. "You both work together very well."

[notasnake]

By now Crowley's realized something is very wrong here at this party and that people are, seemingly at random, becoming their costumes. This man, however, is completely normal and so human it's a shock. The demon narrows his yellow eyes at the man, partly to get a reaction to his serpentine eyes, and leans his neck and shoulders forward slightly as he takes all of Galahad in.

"You're a banana." It's really not a question, despite the incredulous tone. "It's Halloween and you're a banana of all things."

He really can't get over this. Why would someone do that to themselves?

"Did you pick that out yourself? Did someone just... I don't know, let you walk out of your house like that? Because I really can't fathom how or why you would choose to wear this getup." Inquiring demons simply need to know.

[knightgallant]

The golden eyes with their slitted pupils are a bit jarring, but still mostly on par for the kinds of odd things the knight sees around the Nexus daily. His own curious staring at Crowley's eyes is interrupted, however, as the demon starts directing what seems to Galahad to be an unusual amount of ire at his banana costume. The knight smiles reflexively in response, confused, and glances down at his outfit.

In all fairness, Crowley isn't the first person to raise questions about the bright and cheerful costume. The naysaying doesn't bother the knight, though, his expression turning a little self-effacing at the edges.

"I don't see anything wrong with it," he admits. "It is a little silly, aye, but it's pleasant and colorful, and does well at keeping out the chill of the evening." I mean, isn't that just practical??? A thoughtful beat. "It would have been a different tale if it'd turned me into a fruit, of course, but it seems I've been lucky in avoiding those magics tonight."

That having been said, the knight's brightens and offers Crowley a hand.

"I'm called Galahad, by the way. It's good to meet you."

[notasnake]

"...but you're a banana." He really can't get over it. Why in the world would someone choose such a costume? Does the man not know what a banana is, maybe? Crowley's not sure if he should explain if that's the truth, but it's really hard to resist.

"Crowley," he answers, giving Galahad's hand a shake. It's not his custom to greet others like this, but humans do love their rituals so he'll capitulate. He'll just also be looking that costume over again because really? "I, uh... I take it you came to see my partner's show tonight?"

Letting go of that banana thing is going to be very difficult.

[knightgallant]

"There were so many people over here that I wanted to see what all of the excitement was about. It was wonderful, though. You both work together well." It's also a nice break between all of the chaos and helping small children escape from the corn maze. (And it doesn't hurt that the non-corn maze parts of the grounds have plenty of candy around for anyone looking for opportunities to snag a few pieces.)

It's hard not to notice the demon's distraction. A few people have stumbled over Galahad's costume tonight, but this is the first person... being? that's seemed this stuck on it.

"What's wrong with being a banana?" He's genuinely a little curious, but his pressing mostly comes from the realization that Crowley doesn't seem able to let his costume go. "From what I've been told, people can be anything they want for 'Halloween'." That's part of the appeal, right?

[notasnake]

Crowley stares for a moment that's a little too long to be comfortable before he manages an answer.

"There's nothing wrong with eating a banana, but being a banana is another thing entirely." Aside from it being far from fashionable, it's weird. Humans do strange things, but dressing as fruit for Halloween? That will never make sense. "Were there no other costumes at the shop you were at? Surely there were... other options...?"

He is seriously going to be stuck on this all night at this rate. He really just... doesn't get it when there are millions of other options available to someone in the Nexus.

[knightgallant]

"I didn't want to be something frightening," Galahad explains. He's a wholesome Christian boy with a demon fiancé, Crowley! But mostly the idea of scaring people, either through a fearsome reputation or appearance, doesn't appeal to him. "I thought about being an angel," the knight admits, as he pulls a few saltwater taffy candies from... somewhere. He wordlessly offers the handful to the demon before him first. If Crowley refuses, he'll go ahead and start unwrapping an orange taffy for himself because om nom. "But I know a lot of real angels now and I didn't know if seeing what humans thought they looked like might offend them." Because admittedly, some of the depictions he saw weren't exactly accurate.

But god yes, taffy. The knight takes a few moments of chewing and enjoying his treat, before he smiles at Crowley again, surveying the other man's costume briefly. "Why did you choose what you're dressed as?"

[notasnake]

Crowley takes one of the offered candies while he listens. He'll spend more time fiddling with and opening it than actually eating it, but the tactile sensation of opening sweets is rather nice. "Humans have very strange ideas about what angels really look like," he agrees. The idea has grown and changed a lot over the last few thousand years, too. "But I'd think you could find something inoffensive that was less... gaudy." Or ridiculous.

The last question gets another squinted stare. "Really? You didn't see me playing the part of 'lovely assistant' for Aziraphale?" Didn't Galahad say he watched the show?? Crowley is honestly confused. "The look is pretty standard for magic shows for the last hundred years or so."

[sohoangel]

It isn't a dream, Crowley; Aziraphale's skill at sleight-of-hand and misdirection has improved dramatically in the course of the evening. One might even say it is as if a switch was flipped and the angel suddenly became a savant at his act, performing one seamless trick after another.

"Hmm?" He looks up at Crowley -- literally, as the demon has gained a couple more inches over the angel in his heels. "Oh, the usual amount. It's really paid off, hasn't it?" Aziraphale has also noticed his sudden improvement, but he's so delighted that he hasn't bothered to question the reason behind it.

"Speaking of which..." With a flick of his wrist, a red rose appears in his hand without any sort of angelic magic involved. He offers it to Crowley. "For you, my darling, for helping with my act, and looking gorgeous while doing so, I might add."

[notasnake]

This is Crowley's skeptical face, Aziraphale. Do you see it? Raised eyebrow and disbelieving pout? Because he really doesn't think there's any way you got this good overnight.

The rose is quite distracting, though. The demon takes it with a smile, bring it to his face so he can take in its scent. "Thank you, angel, but where in the world were you hiding that rose? I've never seen you hide anything that well without a miracle." Which he doesn't mind in the least, but it does beg a few questions with this sudden appearance of talent the angel didn't have until they arrived at the party. "Were you practicing without me?"

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale meets Crowley's skeptical face with doe eyes and a winsome smile. He was a good little angel who worked very hard on his sleight-of-hand, so obviously he got here on his own merits, what is there to doubt?

"Ah-ah, a magician never reveals his secrets." He wags a finger, then shrugs a bit sheepishly. "I might have practiced a little while you were asleep. My card tricks, at least, I kept a deck on my nightstand." The angel brought magic to the bedroom quite literally and in the least sexy way possible. At least he makes up for it by pressing a conciliatory kiss to Crowley's cheek. "Looks like all that practicing finally paid off, hmm?"

[notasnake]

The demon arches an eyebrow at his partner as he accepts the rose. This is far too smooth for you, Aziraphale, and you both know it.

"Your card tricks aren't what I'm talking about. You pulled actual fuzzy creatures from your hat, ones that weren't in there ahead of time!" He's very confused as to how this could happen without the use of some sort of real magic. There has to be more to it. "D'you have a cage set up under the table? Some sort of contraption attached to your arms for the tricks?" What is your secret your partner must know!!

[sohoangel]

"Oh. That..." Aziraphale gives a slightly nervous smile, the one that means that he doesn't know the actual answer, but is going to try to talk his way through it, anyway. "That's not actually my doing. I didn't bother practicing any animal tricks..."

Not since Warlock's birthday party, in which he had to resurrect the dove stuffed up his sleeve. He still feels bad about that, actually.

"I mean, you can't possibly think I'd purposefully pull our host out of a hat. Or Moloch. No, there's some sort of Nexus magic at work..." He looks at Crowley in concern, running a gentle hand down his side. "Must be the same thing that's turning people into animals... are you feeling all right, dear? Any urge to go snake-y?"

[notasnake]

"No, I don't think you would choose Moloch of all beings to pull from your hat, but--" He sighs and adjusts his boa with a frown. "I'm completely fine. Still all... male-shaped and whatnot. No plans to do or be anything but your lovely assistant tonight." Until they get home, anyway. There are always plans for something more intimate when they get home. Which still begs the question of what in Satan's name is going on at this party.

"If this all some weird... Nexus thing going on, is that why we can't tell?" The question is less for Aziraphale and more for the Nexus as a whole. "I can't sense any weird magic, but people are definitely acting strange."

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale knows he should probably be more concerned, especially because Crowley is, but he can't help but be distracted by that off-the-shoulder boa. The black feathers remind him of Crowley's wings, highlighting how alluring he looks in his tight-fighting dress. "Mmm... lovely..." he repeats uselessly, his fingers playing with a few of the feathers. "Well, you know I adore you in whatever form your corporation takes, but I'm glad you're feeling like yourself."

As for the angel, he's totally fine. No need to speculate that his magician's outfit, combined with a bit of Nexus magic, has led to his sudden improvement in performing sleight-of-hand.

"That's likely it, dear. There is so much magic in the Nexus, I find it difficult to pinpoint anything specific. At least the magic isn't messing with our outfits this time, like that café with all the television sets."

[notasnake]

He sees your distraction and he's going to shake your arm a little to get your attention, Aziraphale. Stay focused! This is no time to get side-tracked by an alluring amount of skin!

Well... the angel has a point there. Crowley frowns thoughtfully and sighs. "Yes, I know how much you didn't care for that." Even though the outfit he had on was wonderful, in the demon's opinion. "But I still don't like not knowing what exactly is going on here. From what you've said, we could be affected and just not know it."

He pauses for a moment, thinking. If they did happen to be affected, what would happen to either of them anyway? Certainly his own corporation would've become fully female, anatomy and all, but what about Aziraphale? Surely the mustache would've become real, at the very least, but would anything else have happened? ...no, it certainly couldn't do something more subtle like improving Aziraphale's sleight-of-hand. That's just daft!

"Seems this might be a mystery we just don't solve," he finally says, shrugging. "Maybe someone'll figure it out and tell us later? I'm rather enjoying this whole shindig, even with the whole... Moloch out of your hat, thing."

Both!

[tryingitall]

He really is very good, isn't he? It's almost like some kind of miniature wormhole has opened in that hat of his. So many fuzzy animals are emerging. Some of them cute.

This one doesn't have to be pulled out, though. It just launches itself abruptly from the shadowy reaches of the hat, like a jack in the box. The entire tiny body unfurls as it hurtles through the air, and it may just be misheard background noise but it sounds like the squirrel is squealing "Wheeeeeeee!" as it glides.

The furry little thing comes to rest on the shoulder strap of Crowley's gown, and Balthazar's giddy laughter is audible.

"You have got to try that!" He enthuses, though it's hard to tell who the suggestion is meant for.

[sohoangel]

It's the one part of Aziraphale's act that he has no control over, these animals (some due to the costuming magic) popping out of his hat at random intervals. When the flying squirrel(?) launches itself out of the hat, the angel steps back reflexively, then stares in consternation as it lands effortlessly on Crowley's shoulder.

Well, at least nobody got bitten this time.

"Balthazar...?" Aziraphale finally actually bothers to attune his angelic senses to the space around them and picks up on the transformative magic. "Crowley! It's another one of those el-oh-els! Oh, good thing we aren't affected."

The angel reaches out and flawlessly makes a peanut appear from behind Balthazar's tiny furry ear before offering to him.

[notasnake]

...well this is unexpected. Crowley doesn't have time to fully take in what Aziraphale's saying about the current state of the area around them while he's coping with the sudden appearance of a small fuzzy creature on his shoulder. The demon jumps a little and arches his neck away from the squirrel as it speaks, an eyebrow arched curious at the creature.

"I think I'd rather not leave my body to chance like that," he counters, still very incredulous of what's going on around him. Crowley looks up at his partner briefly and then back down at Balthazar on his shoulder. "Is that even safe?!"

Not that it usually matters to celestials like the three of them, but this does seem to be a very unusual set of circumstances.

[tryingitall]

Well, Aziraphale, if you're going to offer him snacks, he won't say no! He's got cute little paws, like tiny hands, and he accepts the nut without hesitation, though he tucks it under one arm rather than start eating right away.

"Hello, hello!" He's inordinately happy about all this, possibly tipsy in some way, and because it's Crowley's shoulder that he's on, he leans in and gives him an affectionate head-butt to the cheek. "Crowley, you're so serious! How can you stand to be so serious at a party?"

He leaps across to Aziraphale, then, and cracks open the peanut. "Its just a space-time rift of some sort in the hat, as far as I can tell. Perfectly safe for angels, at least. Feels like a roller-coaster! Not sure about the tranformation; it's even affected Lucifer. It's probably just a temporary glitch in reality, though. I wouldn't worry."

Yes, he did just toss the empty peanut shell into Aziraphale's hat.

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale finds Crowley's unease over the situation a little droll considering the amount of chaos the demon normally enjoys causing. "You turn into a snake, darling," he points out to his partner. "Although I suppose a lack of control over the transformation would be rather jarring..."

At least Balthazar seems happy with the temporary change to his corporation. When the angelic rodent hops onto his shoulder, he smiles and pets his furry head with a finger. "Don't mind Crowley, it's just that you aren't even the first animal to pop out of my hat. There's been a raven Loki, a rabbit Loki, a hyena, and, ah... a rabbit Moloch... needless to say, it's been an odd Halloween, even by our standards."

Aziraphale picks up his hat and flips it over to dust off the top, the peanut shell falling out onto the table. "My hat is not a rubbish bin," he tuts at Balthazar before picking up the shell and turning it in his hand so that it's a new, untouched nut. No miracle, just some exceptionally good sleight-of-hand. "Care for another?"

[notasnake]

Crowley rolls his eyes at his partner for that. "We're a few animals short of a proper zoo at this point," he grumbles. "This is hardly the time to brush off so many gods and angels changing into animals and coming out of a hat that should be a normal hat." Seriously, there was nothing special about it when they left their flat, what the Hell happened to it?!

"Don't feed him," the demon chides with a dramatic sigh. "I'm sure Balthazar is completely capable of taking care of himself, even as a tiny rodent." Crowley steps closer and squints at the completely untouched nut. "Where are you pulling those from, angel? I know you didn't bring those with you from home and I didn't see any laid out for you to pocket for things like this."

[tryingitall]

"Well, that actually sounds brilliant--" Balthazar begins, then pauses as some of the information filters through his squirrelly brain. "...Moloch's a rabbit??"

That's either hilarious or frightening. Maybe both. But the petting on the head distracts him and he leans into it with a swish of his tail and a hum of contentment.

"Ssshh! Ssh!" He chides Crowley, waving a paw at him. "Don't tell him that!" He really does seem a little drunk at this point. "What's the point of being tiny and cute if I don't get any attention out of it?"

Still, he holds out the nut for Crowley's inspection. "No miracle, even! I didn't know you were good at sleight-of-hand, Aziraphale! Oh, and you both look wonderful, by the way. That red is the perfect color for you, Crowley."

[sohoangel]

"Yes... a very bite-y rabbit, but once he settled down, he was surprisingly well-behaved. He even curled up in my waistcoat for a little nap." Which might explain some of Crowley's grouchiness. "But nobody else seemed perturbed at being pulled out of my hat. You're right, Balthazar, it's probably not worth worrying about."

As it happens, he quite agrees with Balthazar that there is no point in being cute if that cute is not acknowledged. He continues to pet Balthazar behind the ears, rewarding his tiniest fan.

"There was a bowl of peanuts at the bar when we came in. And thank you, Balthazar, I've been practicing mundane magic for a while now." He gives Crowley an exceptionally smug look, one that softens when the other angel compliments their outfits. "Although obviously it's Crowley who's stealing the show in that number. I could have fumbled all my tricks and I don't think anyone would have noticed."

Yes, he's laying it on a little thick, but at the end of the day, it's this beautiful demon that he's taking back home with him, and he wants him to feel loved and appreciated for all his trouble.