nexus_crossings | Spooky Scary Skeletons!

Spooky Scary Skeletons!

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!))

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Both pairs of eyebrows went up. "Oh really?" They both murmur and share a look in unison. Aal's ears perk up. A Sphinx eh? That was both a creature of Egypt and Greece.

"Oh did ya rile..her.." She trails off as she glances down to see the PYthon. Her eyes widen as she scoots toward Dor in the blink of an eye. Her hair going up on end as she does a full-body shiver.

"Oh I see.." Magic show that was nice. She shivers and shudders a bit as Dor gently calmly, and protectively wraps an arm around her middle as she curls her feet up off the ground. As he tilts his head.

"Ah..what sort of snake is that lad?" He asks trying to keep his tone calm. Clearly, the young man kept it as a pet. Though you would not ever see such in their own house. For several reasons..Well unless there was an injured shifter of such. Aal shivers again and half eyes it while also trying to carefully roast her marshmallow. As she swallows softly.

“Yeah... soaked her with a water spell too...” he laughed nervously. “But she was going to light me on fire first. So...”

That’s when he realized the shift in Aal’s demeanor. Was she afraid of snakes? Kazumi wasn’t even moving around, having curled up quite contentedly. Minoru had been showing her off quite a bunch (and having some great conversations with her too).

“She’s a butter ball python.” He smiled, being sure to add, “She’s non-venomous, very friendly.”

"Oh, dear." Aal murmurs wryly trying not to let her lips twitch too much half bemused but also torn. Yeah, some big cats wouldn't like getting sprayed though many liked to swim. "Ahem, yes best leave the roasting to hot dogs and marshmallows." She murmurs with a wee nod. Even as her heart sped up in sympathy but he didn't look hurt so her shoulders ease a bit. "They tend to get that way I hear when you can't answer their riddles." She murmurs gently and a mite more grave.

Aal gives him a sheepish but tight smile. That would be a yes, but so long as there was no hissing or moving in her direction she would not be trying to climb piggyback on her hubby out of instinct.

She had been trying to work on it for years, but so long as any snake didn't bother her or anyone else she tended to more shy away from them..Or try and make sure they were away from people. Or some warning sign etc was up. Even pictures made her shudder though as a healer she tried to be up on various facts of fauna of the realms in case of emergencies etc. Fantastical, magical or mundane beasts alike.

Though dragons and the like say she had an easier time with.

"Ah." Dor nods and gently rubs his hand soothing up and down his mate's spine in protective comfort as she burrows against his side and tries to mind her marshmallow. Breathing deeply in and out. "I see. well that's good I would hope no one would bring something that wasn't..but you never know in these parts." Or say what sort of Wonderlandian worthy magic that might pop up. He half thinks as he puts the top hat with its card on his hat and rakishly tries to angle the brim to half try and distract his beautiful bride.

Minoru huffed playfully. “Who says a riddle has to have only one answer anyway? Mine were totally creative.”

It was probably a good thing that the magic hadn’t seemed to affect Kazumi in any way. Though it did make Minoru into a parselmouth, so now they had an additional level of understanding - beyond the fact that he raised her since she was a hatchling.

“She said she’ll try to be really still so she doesn’t spook you while you make s’mores.”

Aal tilts her head. "Point..well I suppose some are more strict in things then others..I've heard tale of ones for which it's either a point of pride or.." She squints. "I belive in a few versions of Oedipus's story it cannot live with the shame and either..erm did itself in or the Hero did." She murmurs, "To save the besieged town of course.." She adds quickly. Heroes weren't supposed to be cruel though many had flaws and did crudy stupid things in the heat of the moment or due to divine intervention.

They both blink at this. Aal softly clears her thoart. "Well , that's..right kind of ya." She murmrus softly. Giving a sheepish smile easeing slightly. Least someone could understand the beastie.

She was better with canine of course, but she could do birdsong and equine as well. She did try and learn some of the other animal languages as well.
Dor still rubbed her back with a pleased little smile before he reaches round to offer her a plate of graham crackers and chocolate squares so she can set her frog somewhere while she worked on their snack together.

She leans against her dear husband more to give him a small peck on the cheeck in gratitude as he wraps his arm around her to half comfort, and half help holds her stick steady so she can have her own hands free for the moment.

“Yeah, I totally get it now why the Ministry of Magic rated them a four X beast. And that’s only one level down from a Basilisk!”

True to her word, Kazumi stayed coiled at Minoru’s feet. Though, the two did share a few words on the subject of her much larger, much more deadly relative. The hissing sounds that came out of Minoru’s mouth were very strange. But Parseltongue was less about words, and more about communicating impressions of thoughts and feelings.

“Which Kazumi wishes to point out that she is nothing like. For the record.”

Aal hums and nods. "mmhmm. " She then blows out an impressed breath. "I would not be surprised." Her ears go up a little bit fantastical and epic creatures were sort of her favorite things to read and discuss about.

Her eyes soften a little as she and Dor work on makeing and nibbling on their smores. Aal can't help but smirk a little at his playful wink. "We should have more of these late, midear." He half purrs in comment.

"Mmmmhmm." Aal hums and nods in agreement. "Oh, ah.. I do wonder if they have any sweet shops about that would have these." She murmurs through transient or not they may be. Aal shivers subconsciously and burrows into her 'Hatter's warmth and comfort. Yes, that was much better.

"Mmh." Aal hums and nods. "Glad to hear it. especially as I've not seen any friendly phoenixes about as of yet." Half playful half-serious. Heck, she wouldn't mind a owl friend even. Some part of her thinks wistfully.

The s’mores were really good. Minoru was already reaching for another marshmallow to levitate into the fire.

“A phoenix, huh?” He grinned. “One our past headmasters used to have a phoenix. At least that’s what the groundskeeper said. But they’re super rare. And their tears are super expensive.”

They both watch a bit bemused, Aal tilts her head a little curiously.

"Ah..aye.." She squints a little, her brow slightly furls like the memories becoming..a little foggier but still there to be drawn on..She blinks and shakes her head a little. "Really? I mean that..is one of the few things able to heal injuries from Basilisk venom..If..ahem done so in time." She murmurs yes..There were several reasons for that. In that realm, if she could..recall her research properly.

"Takes quite a special person to befriend let alone find a Phoniex I suppose. " She murmurs softly and then sighs wistfully. She'd be happy just to see one. She rather loved creatures some were easier to get along or least know what they wanted etc. Then certain people sometimes.

She nuzzles her beloved with her check, before giving him a little smile as he offers her half of his s'more. "Thank you, darling." She murmurs as she breaks off a bit of her coco frog for him to try in return.

Minoru nodded energetically. “They sure are. No magical snake wrangler would dare be without a few vials, just in case!”

And Minoru did know at least a few members in that profession. They were long-time friends of the Uchiwa family.

“Never seen a phoenix myself, though. Or a basilisk... but given that looking at one of those in the eyes literally kills you, I don’t know if ANYONE outside of a very unlucky ghost can say they’ve actually seen a basilisk.”

She nods softly. She shivers a little at the thought.

"Aye,, ahem.I mean the latter you'd likely have to use something reflective. Like one would when say dealing with Medusa or one of her gorgon cousins or sisters. " She pipes up. "She usually turns gents to stone but sometimes it's anyone or being depending on realm." So best be prepared.

“Nope. That doesn’t work either.” Minoru shook his head. He remembered that lecture in Defense Against the Dark Arts, probably because it had to do with snakes. “Looking at a reflection petrifies you. Might as well be staring straight at a gorgon.”

Being able to speak to snakes, he might have a chance to make a basilisk stand down, turn around, etc. But there was just as much of a chance he’d end up like a mouse to Kazumi.

"Ah, does your.. realm has a way to reverse such?" She asks gently. Trying to recall the ones she knew of and their lore. It sounded like a dangerous place indeed.

Dor's brows go up, a shiver going up along his spine as he held his beloved a little bit tighter in protective reflex at the thought. As his nostrils flare a little. Wondering what other such dangers lurked where this young mage dwelled.

“Death, no. But petrification, yeah...” he went over it in his head first to make sure he was remembering the right potion. (As fifth years, he and his brother had both bern cramming for their upcoming O.W.L. exams!) “Mandrake restorative draught.”

Minoru noticed the protective gesture.

“Hey, it’s not all scary monsters and curses and stuff.” He tried to reassure them. There were a lot of dangers in the wizarding world, true. But there was a lot of fun too. “You ought to see a good quidditch game!!”

Aal hums and nods, softly. "mmh, true of most realms.." She murmurs softly. She'd heard of others..Or the occasion divine intervention by various sorts of beings. Her ears perk up. "ah a potion." She murmurs her tone half approveing. As Dor lips slightly as if he's trying not to smirk too widely.

It does go slightly lopsided and playfuly wolfish though.

"Mmh, well that's good." Dor murmurs still gently rubbing Aal's shoulder. Knowing his 'Alice' far too well. In that, she might be entertaining ideas of trying for a visit.At least for sweets if she could manage it somehow. (If he didn't try and fetch some for her first._ Or some sort of trade and barter.

Aal gently nuzzles his shoulder back in turn. "Ooh, game?" Her eyes light up, "What sort of games do you have?" She asks half curious and half well she was always interested in cultures and such topics.

Potions wasn’t exactly Minoru’s forte, but it was a required class. And he was still trying to pass it.

“Quidditch is the best game ever!” And was something he could talk about for hours if left to his own devices.

Explaining it was difficult, even if you did talk to muggles on a regular basis, but eventually, Aal and Dor would at least understand that it’s played flying on brooms, players score goals by throwing balls through giant rings while being chased by other balls lobbed at them from the opposing team, and that it was Minoru’s job on the team to catch a tiny flying golden ball that would end the game and score a ton of points. (It was way better in person.)

“After I graduate, I’m gonna go pro. Just watch me!” He declared proudly. “If I could play for the Japanese National Team, man... that would be a dream come true!”

They both smile warmly and listen raptly regardless.

the smiles turn to grins at his excitement. Aal nods, "ooh, I like the sound of that snitch." She murmurs warmly. She twitches her nose, sounded like lots of potential injuries. But she hoped more fun waiting to happen as well as long as it was done correctly and such.

They both grin, "Well I certainly hope you get a chance to." She murmurs sincerely with a warm nod.

As Dor smiles softly. "Perhaps before then, we could see you play some." He murmurs half conversationally. His wife had met at least one person from a similar realm after all.

“Man, there was that one time I caught it with my foot, hanging from my broom...”

Yes, he did play barefoot. No, it was not technically against the rules, somehow. Neither was standing on his broom instead of sitting down. His methods of flying were incredibly acrobatic, much to the dismay of every opposing Hogwarts team.

“Or the time I literally jumped over the other seeker, right off my broom, caught it in mid-air and landed back on the broom. That was like my second or third game on the team. Nobody believed it!”

It would be hard to sneak guests into a school match, but if he could get in one of the camps over the summer, maybe...

(Poor Minoru, that this will all be merely a memory by morning.)

Eyebrows went up impressed. "Wow, that's..that's..something alright." Aal murmured.

Dor grinned, "Brilliant." He concurs with a nod.

Aal makes a soft sound that's torn tween bemused impressed and concerned. "Well, I'm glad your all right." She murmurs in the end.

Yes, definitely a game she would not be trying herself. She thinks. Her dear companion had a familiar gleam in his eye however like he might be willing to try it. He did always look dashing in uniform.

Ahem, focus. She mentally reprimands herself and shakes her head a little.

Dor however smirks slightly playful and lopsided with a little wink. As he almost drawls, "So..ah these..Brooms of yours are they expensive?" His tone is conversational and curious.

When he was a second year (first years weren’t allowed to have brooms at Hogwarts - the longest freaking year of his life!) he was picked on relentlessly for this crazy trick flying. Most his house initially thought he’d be the laughing stock of the quidditch team and couldn’t believe the manager made him their new seeker. But when Slytherin started winning, and in epic ways, even the most arrogant of his housemates had to swallow their pride. Three consecutive years of taking the Quidditch Cup (and with it the yearly House Cup) and no end in sight...

“Depends on the make and model.” He replied, as though he was talking about a muggle automobile. It served the same purpose, and the old family station wagon was obviously going to be cheaper than a race car. “Mine’s a yajirushi. One of the best you can get in Japan.”

Minoru did have the benefit of being part of a well-to-do wizarding family that could afford to buy a teenager the equivalent of a high-end sports car. But to Minoru’s credit, he trained hard with it and took the time and spent the funds to maintain it.

They both hum and nod in understanding. Some things were universal. Commerce seems to be one of them.

Aal blinks and tilts her head. "That's a very interesting name. " Her tone intrigued.

Dor hums and smiles a little bemused. Before gently settling his chin for a moment on his beloved's shoulder. "Do you..have any..nice flying beasties in yer world?" He asks warmly. He'd half more trust something one could reason with or befriend. Especially with his beloved Aalice's safety.

Though he wouldn't be opposed to perhaps doing some small trick or stunt himself to make her smile or show some sporting prowess.

Indeed, Minoru could talk shop on brooms for way too long. But Dor’s question changed the subject completely.

“Nice flying beasties?” He didn’t have to think too long on that one. “Isamu has a pet owl.”

It was very common for wizarding families to own owls. They were the primary means of mail delivery, after all.

Dor nods, "yes..oh I see..So any you can ride? or perhaps pull a carriage?" He asks warmly.

Aal brightens and grins, "Ooh lovely what kind?" She asks intrigued.

“It’s uh... brown?” Minoru shrugged. Sure, they both used the owl for sending mail, but it really was Isamu’s pet. “You’d have to ask him.”

And he would tell them, in excruciating detail. Fair warning.

“Hmmm... the carriages at Hogwarts are pulled by Theatrals. I’ve never seen them, but people say they have wings. Hippogriffs can fly. If you haven’t completely offended them first. And there are dragons! We definitely have dragons!”

They both blink, Aal smiles softly. "Oh..I see." She definitely would once she had the chance.

They nod and listen raptly. "Ooh.." Aal brightens, "I've heard of Hippogriffs." She murmurs yes proud and sometimes rareish in some places, As a griffin and horse would have to ahem mate to make one. Those two species didn't often get along. Though she supposed if a hippogriff met another hippogriff etc. It would be easier to get a lot of them.

Dor's eyebrows go up. "Fascinating. "

Aal wiggles and leans a little forward intrigued with a small smile between nibbles of her snack.

Spooky Scary Skeletons!

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