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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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.

“I’ve seen a couple dragons at Orochi-sama’s sanctuary, but nothing up close.”

If the name of the old family friend was any indication, the man Minoru mentioned was a magical snake wrangler. Parselmouths were more common in that part of the world - the twins’ uncle was one. Orochi’s entire family were, and had done that work for generations. Dragons weren’t snakes per se, but Asian dragons were similar enough that he kept them along with other giant serpents.

“My patronus is a dragon!”

Both of their eyebrows went up, "OOh." Aal murmurs intrigued.

Dor murmurs lowly as he slightly leans toward their new companion. "So no Jabberwocs then?" Inadvertently or not leaning closer to his beloved as well. In turn which Aal wiggles a little and happily snuggle up closer to him.

At hearing that, she brightens greatly and murmurs sincerely. "That's..Brilliant." A slightly growing distant part of her wondered what theirs might be.

Minoru shrugged, having no idea what that was. Isamu might know, but then again, there was very little Isamu didn’t know.

He watched the two get comfortable, and reached for another marshmallow and chocolate frog. This was definitely a pleasant spot for the evening, but Minoru was starting to get a little restless. He’d been sitting in one spot far too long.

Dor was starting to think the lad's brother and his mate would get along like a house afire.

Aal gives him a soft warm smile. "So have you had any other..erm misadventures of late? " She asks softly giving him another look over. They should try and find their hostess and say hello etc at least. Before looking for more friendly faces. Maybe one more s'more though.

Minoru chuckled. “I wish... it’s our fifth year. That means we have to sit for our O.W.L.s in a few months. If it wasn’t for the quidditch team, I don’t think I’d get a break!”

Isamu would ace all of them, or almost all of them, Minoru had no doubt. His brother had been tutoring him for months, but eventually push would come to shove and he’d get whatever score he got.

They both blink but listen intently, between nibbles though they watch him raptly. "Oh..Is that..your exams?" Aal murmurs as something niggles at her mind her brows furl. She feels like she should know this..but.It's foggy.

Dor smiles softly. "Ah, do you have other..hobbies and games you enjoy?" He asks surely they could perhaps..They could try playing something with him. Well, it was All Hallows Eve if it was not one of the seasons for games..Yule would be the other..Or Midsummer.

“Yeah. Just the most important exams of our lives...” he rolled his eyes. Obviously, those were Isamu’s words. Merlin only knows how Minoru got him out of the castle and out of his textbooks long enough to have some fun tonight. “The most important exam in my life’s gonna be trying out for the Japanese National Team!”

But like any parents of a future athletic hopeful, Minoru’s still insisted he perform well at school. Having something to fall back on and all that.

Still, he smiled at Dor’s question. He replied that he was a member of the dueling club, but really, it all boiled down to “If It can be played while flying, I’m in.”

Both sets of eyebrows went up, "Wowzer." Aal murmurs lowly. Dor blinks slowly. As they continue to listen.

"Well good luck laddie." Dor murmurs warmly and sincerely.

They both chuckle warmly. Dor grins lopsidedly a pleased playful glimmer in his eyes. "Well, if you and your brother wouldn't mind teaching a few folks the rules.." He offers.

Aal nods and gently squeezes Dor's hand gently. So long as she was with him, she could be braver than she often felt.

Quidditch was very complicated, and they really didn’t have enough room to play it properly here. Nor did they have any of the necessary supplies.

“Why don’t you pick a game instead, hm?” Minoru suggested, munching the last of his s’more. “There’s a lot to do here! No sense not taking advantage of it!”

Perhaps if more folks from a certain realm came to visit etc. someday they could but as it was.

Both of their eyebrows go up . Aal blinks a few times, while Dor softly smirks and glances toward her with a little encouraging nuzzle of his nose a playful twinkle in his eyes. Before they both softly hummed and look thoughtful.

Aal rubbing her chin in thought. "Perhaps a card game of some sort or.." She half suggests as she turns to look toward the main area of The Viper Pit wondering what party games or other items may be set up.

Spooky Scary Skeletons!

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