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

[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."

[sohoangel]

Oh, Crowley definitely has Aziraphale's attention, just not the kind required to puzzle apart a magical mystery. He does snap out of his adoring daze when Crowley tugs at his arm, only to take his beloved's hand and kiss the back of it.

"No, I very much did not like that, although you certainly made it bearable." The compliments and sweet drinks helped, of course, but his favorite part of the evening was still going back home and having Crowley take the damned suit off. "And I know you don't like knowing what's going on, but whatever's happening, I'm fairly certain it's skipped over us entirely."

After all, Crowley's corporation hasn't changed, and neither has Aziraphale's. That adorable little curlicue mustache is still very much drawn-on. And the angel's mind refuses to consider the fact that anything more subtle could be at work, so when Crowley finally concedes to the situation, the angel gives him a sweet, reassuring smile.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, dear, even with the interruptions." Aziraphale is having a blast, of course, but he understands Crowley's unease over Moloch's appearance. He hadn't even told Crowley the part about Moloch chomping on his ascot, not wanting to upset the demon. "You know, I've more or less performed all my tricks... shall we find a place to relax, perhaps sample some of the treats available?"