1st Annual Halloween Block Party!

[iam_senpai]

Perhaps it's the leaves of fiery golds and oranges drifting on the breeze, or the sight of various hard squash being mangled into festive ornaments, or even still the bowls of candy left out simply everywhere in the Nexus that signifies the import of today. Regardless of when you take heed, Halloween has come to the Nexus.

Neat little handmade signs and fliers of all kinds lead to a particularly festive sectioned off block with the Crossroads Cafe at the center. The brick building has more than its fair share of decorations hung from every available windowsill and door. Hanging skeletons, jolly Jack-O-Lanterns, orange and black streamers cascading down and blowing to and fro in the crisp breeze.

The doors are propped open just waiting to beckon you inside. What are you waiting for?

((See the OOC post if you have any questions! Backtagging and threadhopping are fine. Come on in and have a blast :D ))



Coats and Costumes
The Cafe
Bonfire
Dance Floor
Haunted House
Side Halls and Storage

Comments

[rekindledtitan]

"You'll need a bigger cape, Steve. A great hero needs the best cape he can get," she informs him sagely. "How else are people going to know about your deeds?"

Okay, she might be mixing up traditions a bit there, but he won't know.

"More or less. The first Titans raised the wall around the City when it was still little more than a refugee camp. Guarding it has been the first duty of our orders ever since. Once you step beyond the Wall, you're in hostile territory. We seek out any survivors we can and guide them home, but Earth's a big place. And there aren't too many of us these days."

[juststeverogers]

"If this cape gets any bigger I'll trip over it. I really don't see the point of a cape. You'd think it would just make it easier for people to grab you."

Steve swishes the fabric to and fro while he talks, as if trying to gesture to the point he's making.

"And there's not trouble behind the wall? Crime?" You'd think not what with the end of the world and all, but some people. Steve's learning that some things never change.

[rekindledtitan]

"You'd think, but if you're ever in a fight with one of our Hunters, laying a finger on their cloak is the last mistake you'll make." She laughs, lowering a hand to the mark that hangs at her side, as always. "Personally, I'm with you - I like the practicality of our marks. Capes are just... showier."

His question draws a 'hrn' and a nod. "There's always some. There's an internal police force that reports to our Commander,but sometimes - especially in times of unrest - a few of us Titans go in to help restore order. Sometimes they need a Ghost's help, too. But it's been a while since we've had anything like the old faction wars."

[juststeverogers]

"I think a uniform would be showy enough, ya know? But to each their own. Folks gotta be themselves, or something like that."

Yeah, that's what Steve thought. Even in the apocalypse, people want to look out for themselves above the community. It hardens something in his expression, but he nods all the same.

[rekindledtitan]

"We've left uniforms behind, Steve. Every Guardian's gear is unique to them anyway. Mostly. You just change the colors and the markings if you want to share them with a team. Or a faction." She doesn't much care for the last part anyway. It's a funny thing, but where a uniform means unity in Steve's time, it represents division to her.

She nudges him. "But that's secondary. We're all one people, come the dawn. Gotta remember what the enemy is."

[juststeverogers]

"The enemy is bigotry, Blaze. Hatred, ignorance. Racism. Bullies. The enemy is anyone who pushes around others to get what they want. The enemy is apathy. There's lots of enemies. Picking your battles is a bit harder."

Steve has gone entirely serious as he speaks. Then again, he walked away from the biggest war that had ever been raged. He has opinions on that front.

[rekindledtitan]

"Tell me about it. That's the part I never got the hang of." There's a certain amount of cheer in her voice, but she's no less serious when she claps a hand on their young friend's shoulder.

"You're right, Steve. Our people left a lot of the old hatreds behind, but it took a long time, even with the Traveler there to give them a push. And I can bet it cost them. But even we have a lot of work to do. That's why we Titans put so much focus on honor and history. We can't defeat the Darkness if we forget who we are." An affectionate nudge, then. "Or the lessons you guys had to learn for us."

[juststeverogers]

"Do you...."

Steve moves aside the cape so that his shield is more visible where it's strapped to his back underneath. He carries it comfortably now, as though he's had it for much longer than a few mere months.

"Do you still make the rounds at that shop downtown?"

Steve was banged up from that escapade for quite some time. He still walks by there every day. Keeps an eye out. And always brings his shield. Just in case. There haven't been any confrontations since. Not directly, at least. And the owner of the building never needs to know Steve's sticking his neck out there.

[rekindledtitan]

She's quiet for a moment, when he asks. Not an uncomfortably long one, but it sticks out just because Blaze generally isn't slow to answer anything.

"It's on our route. Stopped in just once, but we haven't seen any sign of trouble. Might be good news." She nods at him. "You're still out there too, huh?"

[juststeverogers]

"Every day, even when the weather's bad. Just can't....can't shake the feeling that I should check, you know?"

Even though he'd gotten hurt. Even though fighting them again would end badly, if not worse than before. It's the right thing to do. Someone's got to stand up to people like that. Here or anywhere else for that matter.

"I'm glad it's been clear on your end, too."

[rekindledtitan]

"They could be lying low for a while." She glances at Ghost. "We ought to team up. Make sure the next time they show up really is their last."

[juststeverogers]

"I'd like that, yeah."

Steve wants to insist he has this under control, but in truth having an ally he can count on to have his back is a very nice thing. Besides, he doesn't want to over worry Ghost, and Blaze can punch through walls. It's a pretty neat skillset to have on his side.

"I hate to think of guys like that getting away with tormenting shopowners because of a loophole in the system."

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze doesn't want Steve to get hurt, but she knows better than to try and discourage him from doing what seems undeniably the right thing. Her offer isn't meant to be disrespectful, in any way - he's her friend, and if he might need help she's glad to fight alongside him.

She nods seriously. "Someone always has to try their luck, I guess. But we'll see to them. It'll be a good team exercise!" Those are important for a soldier too, she'd be quick to remind Steve. "Just let us know next time you're ready to head out and we can set up a rendezvous."

[juststeverogers]

"It is that. I was going to join the army, you know. Back home. I do need to learn about those."

Steve gives a bit of a laugh and nods to Ghost and Blaze. They're not telling him to back down, and the support makes him feel warm. This is what having comrades in arms should be like.

"I'll be sure to text Ghost when I get ready to head out. It's a promise."