Happy Naberus! [Party post]

[labrathor]

There's a chill in the air and a distant howl, and the sun is nowhere to be seen. On the outskirts of the Plaza, grinning faces carved into squashes tempt passersby to follow their lighted path, leading visitors down twists and turns through darkened streets, fog swirling around their feet. Did you already pass this way before? Are you going in circles, lost forever? Doubling back on yourself will lead to much the same result. And you don't remember when or how, but your clothes have somehow become a costume - whether funny, horrific, or downright bizarre.

Eventually, you find yourself in a small street carnival, tucked away far beyond the beaten path. Lights and lanterns run the length of a darkened street, the smells of fried and baked treats in the air, a light haze of smoke gathering under the awnings of food stalls. Beyond the food stalls, a haunted house beckons the brave to venture into its dark, cramped corridors, the sounds of distant screams coming from deep within. To the other side, a mountain of pumpkins waits to be carved, scoops and wicked-looking knives laid out on a tall table. Further still, wooden washtubs full of dark red wine host a small flotilla of apples to be bobbed, leaving all participants with deep red stains running down their necks from trying.

But before you can investigate the many wonders this strange little celebration has to offer, you must first be confronted by the host.

What looks for all the world like a fleshy flower writhes in the entryway to the festival, already towering over most visitors at fifteen feet high. But then that flower opens, unfolding into the form of an even larger young woman, bloody handprints painted on her exposed skin and shards of glass seemingly jammed directly into her head, and papercraft severed limbs hang in a necklace around her throat. She grins at you with unrestrained glee. "Couldn't resist, right? This is the happiest time of the entire year! Happy Naberus! You do know what that is? The Orokin festival of death, darkness, and deviance." She peers down at those in her presence. "We're all equal on Naberus night now, under our masks. Who's to know who's powerful and who isn't?"

She straightens up and laughs, waving her arms towards the carnival behind her. "Don't say I didn't warn you!"



[ooc: Happy Naberus, Nexus-goers! This is a party post, so feel free to tag around under the activity tags or just with each other! And remember, everyone must have a costume to participate! You can make it as mundane or as terrifying as you like. If you are open to spooky and/or horrifying events happening to your character, please also contact me through DMs here or to Ael on Discord so we can plan it together beforehand. The horror side of this event is opt-in, and threads containing such content should be tagged in the subject line.]

Comments

((things I meant to do last year but never got around to))

[coldsong]

Loki is keeping a close eye on his four children, because Halloween parties have been known to get out of hand in the Nexus. Indeed, if the path they were already treading hadn't led them directly into the center of this one, he might have dodged it, but they were already out and about, and once they were headed toward the celebration, he couldn't have said no even if he wanted to.

All five of them have come out dressed up as Captain America, though each of the children has a slight variation in the costume. Una's features a sparkly rainbow tutu over the uniform, Sigrid's has an elegant scarlet Aesir-style cape, Agnarr's is half forest-ranger, half-soldier, with what appears to be a quiver of faux arrows and a very real bow, and Eindrid's has, inexplicably, a set of teddy bear ears and a fluffy tail. Whether the venue sees fit to leave them in their choice of outfits the whole time or not, the intent to troll is pretty clear.

The blood spattered on their host is unnerving and prompts a moment of uncertain staring from the kids, but the smile she(?) gives them is reassuring. Loki studies her, then bows, "Everyone is powerful here, and everyone is vulnerable. Thank you for your hospitality."

The children echo the bow and murmur or sign their thanks, before the entire entourage enters the carnival.

[itmeanscourage]

While Minoru was in the haunted house, Isamu saw the gaggle of Captain Americas walking by.

“Ah, Loki! Pleasant evening to you and your family.” He nodded politely. “I sense a theme here.”

Technically, Isamu ended up as part of a matching set too. Both he and his brother were given fantasy-inspired samurai armor when they walked into the carnival. (Isamu’s costume, for reference)

[coldsong]

"Hello, Isamu!" Loki nods back, and the children give a chorus of waves, calls of 'hi!' and salutes. "You've got quite the fancy look, yourself. Is it comfortable? Didn't they use lamellar paper armor for a while there? It sounds nice and airy compared to plate mail..."

[itmeanscourage]

“Our armor does appear to be modeled after what was worn during the Heian period. These leather straps, however, are certainly not genuine and have not been lacquered appropriately for weatherproofing.” Isamu conceded. “However, this costume is surprisingly comfortable. And I would have to assume the genuine article would have been fairly easy to maneuver in as well.”

In other words, the Nexus did a good job picking something out… even if it saw fit to give Minoru the war fan, and thus make him the leader. (Isamu wasn’t jealous about that… no…)

[ididntasktogetmade]

Loki is not the only one corralling children today, though his entourage is both younger and more numerous than Rocket's. Groot is draped with colorful lights, a star-shaped ornament perched on top of his head like a little propeller hat, baubles jingling on his wrists and ankles. The treenager is currently eyeing up the buckets for apple bobbing, but his attention is diverted by the semi-familiar sight of Captain America's costume. "I am Groot!" [Hello Steve Rogers!] he calls out, raising a hand in greeting. Then he blinks, and peers closer. "I am... Groot?" [How many of you are you?]

"It's not him," Rocket pipes up, reaching up to pat Groot on the leg. He's still disgruntled by the change in his outfit, taking away his utilitarian pilot's garb for a burglar's costume that looks suited to an old cartoon, black and white stripes on his shirt, a beanie on his head (with holes for his ears to poke out of), and a fabric mask over his eyes. Rocket eyes the group, looking up at Loki. "Big fans, huh?"

[coldsong]

Oh, Groot. If only you knew how frightening it was to be dressed as a Christmas Tree on Halloween. That is a masterstroke.

In any case, Loki shimmers briefly, shifting into full Steve-Rogers getup and giving an exaggerated salute of greeting. "Hello, Groot and Rocket! Happy...Naberus, I guess? Not sure which world this holiday comes from."

A second later, he's himself in a spangled suit once again. "Anyone can be a Captain America variant, you just have to believe in yourself." He would 100% say this to Steve's face, too.

Agnarr, who is closest to Groot in proportional age anyway, is the first to approach, absolutely fascinated by a tree-person. He smiles and gives a little wave, wondering whether sign language will translate.

Sigrid privately thinks Rocket is the cutest thing she's ever seen, but has enough sense not to squeal or touch. He may notice the metaphorical heart-eyes at some point, but she's being restrained.

"They're big fans, I'm more of a troll," Loki clarifies, although truthfully he's a bit of a fan of Steve Rogers, not so much of Cap. "I'm hoping someone will show up dressed as me and we can have a dramatic battle scene."

[ididntasktogetmade]

The inspirational truism gets a massive eyeroll from Rocket, probably as Loki expects. Rocket hadn't spent a terribly long time talking to Steve Rogers when he was alive, and the circumstances hadn't exactly been ideal, so he'd never really gotten the full force of the Righteous Captain America public persona. What a goody-goody, am I right?

"Keep that up and I'll fight ya," he says, not under the delusion he'd win for a solid second. Wouldn't exactly stop Rocket, but... he's joking anyway. Right? ....right?

"I am Groot." [Nice to meet you.] Groot gives Agnarr a returning little wave, looking around at the group of little Caps. "I am Groot!" [We're all Avengers!]

"He still thinks it's cool," Rocket adds as an aside to Loki and his kiddos, lifting his shoulders in a good-natured shrug.