The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

[assistanting]

Who: April Ludgate-Dwyer and everyone ever
Where: Realside Ballroom
When: HALLOWEEN
Rating: PG-13?
Summary: ITS A HALLOWEEN PARTY
The Story:






[it's no secret that halloween is april's favorite holiday - she'd been planning this since her network post in september. she'd been ignoring the network and the tapping on her own mirrors in favor of just having this one stupid thing, and she really does go all out. it's a testament to the fact that when april puts her mind to something she can do anything she wants (with the help of a few gracious wonderlanders, and the magic here) and somewhere, leslie is just so proud, she's probably exploding. gross.

when characters arrive, they'll find the ballroom transformed into a creepy halloween paradise - tons of pumpkins, fake spider web (or is it???), fake dead bodies (or are they???), and a plethora of other decorations carefully handpicked by april. she didn't just ask the ballroom to do this, she worked out every detail.

there's an open bar and more candy than you ever needed in your life, plus a bunch of different Halloween themed food (spagehtti for brains, apples for bobbing). there's a dance floor playing a mix of mostly halloween music but also some other stuff even she can concede her taste in german death reggae isn't for everyone. and honestly, she actually wants people to have a really good time.

april is dressed up as moritica addams from the addams family and will actually be around mingling with people and being sociable - maybe that's the true horror of the holiday.]

Comments

The Moral of the Uninvited Story | Open

[pig_and_pepper]

[ She did not come through the door, but now she hovers near the apple vat, that ever so mysterious woman who looks STAGGERINGLY like Wonderland's Duchess, if Wonderland's Duchess were one to be found mingling during such occasion, wearing garments of light pink fabric and a corresponding mask.

A piglet she carries in her arms as well, an elegant one, with a wig of flowing silver hear, a frilly animal's dress coloured in kind, and pearls around its ping neck.

They both survey the festivities apprehensively. ]

Yes, well, they did lose our invitation, but I suppose we'll forgive them just this once. The occasion calls for such mercies, and the moral is to be-

[ She seizes her piglet by its hind legs, and dunks it unceremoniously into apple-filled waters. It gurgles a while, before the woman pulls and the piglet emerges with a piece of fruit in its snout, squealing seemingly quite pleased by the manoeuvre and its outcome. ]

-to be graceful and aplombacious in all things, and ever-vigilant at all times.

[assistanting]

Hey, it's cool, uninvited guests are the best.

[april slides on over watching the pig get the apple and wow could this lady get any cooler? of course april had seen her on the network before but. there's something different about seeing her in person. and ok april has a weakness for powerful (and dark) ladies who could be a rolemodel in her life.]

What's the pig's name?

[powerofmabel]

[it's without ceremony, that the sudden shriek of:] PIIIIIIIG!!! [is heard across the party as a little girl with a dress with a hoop skirt that seems to have metal panels attached to the skirt manuevers through the crowd to get to the Duchess and her pig, peering over the tub of water and apples.]

Look at its little wig. [she presses her hands to her face and tries to resist the urge to squeal herself. it makes her miss Waddles all the more, but for now she's focused on the fact that there is a pig in a wig.] You're so fancy. [She reaches up to try and touch the pig or possibly the Duchess's dress... it's sort of either/or with Mabel. She's a creep.]

[naughty_nurse]

[Mikan isn't actually sure if she's allowed in. But she'd really like to be, because parties = socializing = possible friends??? Maybe???

But she's TOTALLY OKAY WITH NOT BEING INVITED because she's used to that. But she's dressed up just in case, as Cinderella as she identifies with that fairy tale a little bit. She hovers near the doorway, unsure. Go in? Stay out? Go in? Stay out?]

Carol Danvers | OTA

[airforceful]

[Carol hasn't been here very long, and she's not sure how much she feels like partying. Still, it's not like she has anything better to do. So she whips a costume up out of the closet and heads down. For the duration of the night she'll just be the other captain.

She can be found eating candy, posing majestically with her shield, or dancing. She actually is having a pretty good time.]

[actualwizard]

[Billy spots Carol from across the room and laughs as he makes his way over. Loki dressed him up as Luke Skywalker, complete with one of the light sabers he had made back in February for Star Wars night.]

First you take his favorite line and now you're dressing like him. I think you might give Steve a complex.

[araneidal]

[ 'sup Carol. Guess who Nat came as. ]

Should I ask for your autograph?

Dipper and Mabel Pines | OTA

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper and Mabel rule at Halloween. It's a proven fact that people go crazy for twins in matching costumes, and Dipper and Mabel have always been good at working that angle. They're getting older, now, and Dipper's still not sure how he feels about Trick or Treating, but this is a grown-up party where grown-up people are dressing up. He doesn't have to feel awkward about getting too old this time. He just gets to hang out in costume.

Dipper's costume features a bowtie, suit jacket, and a wrench covered in glitter. Mabel's got a dress made of metal that clanks when she moves and, of course, a plunger. When they're not dancing or eating way too much candy, they're waving their props menacingly at each other. After all, everyone knows that Dr. Why and the Plungerbot are mortal enemies.

....actually, Dipper's pretty sure Mabel only agreed to costumes from the popular British TV show Why, MD because she wanted to hit him with a plunger. But hey, he's got a sonic wrench. He can't complain.]

Philip | OTA

[radiopalkiller]

[ The entire holiday is not exactly up his alley, but five years in the company of several US citizens have at least made the concept somewhat more familiar, and more tolerable at that. It's rather got its charms, if you manage to distill it down to its most vital component: An opportunity for social drinking.

So yes, he did always have a mind to take up that party invitation, and rumours of suffering on the Mirrors' side have only made him more, not less, likely to enjoy the evening. Concerning dream aside, but that is a matter for another time.

Only the question of attire took some time to solve, but ultimately Philip decided that proper etiquette should honour the hostess in some for or other. He therefore shows up at his most solemn, his most holy, and, above all, at his most bees.

The open bar is his first destination, naturally, and for any and all inquiring minds he already has a small "business card" prepared, and upon questioning will happily part with the small piece of white cardboard, which elegantly identifies Philip as ]

The Archbeeshop ✝

[nascensibility]

...you do know an archbishop wears an ornate cassock, don't you?

[Evelyn hazards, looking from the little card to Philip with a raised eyebrow. Not that she can judge, looking like someone who belongs in very early film.]

[assistanting]

Hey your holiness.

[she has never been happier in her life. you can't tell it. but the happiness is just brimming from her. he dressed up based on something she said. this is all her dreams.]

Evelyn | OTA

[nascensibility]

[Seeing as Hallowe'en is neither celebrated nor endorsed in any fashion in the country and time from whence Evelyn comes, it is terribly funny to her that costumed antics are not only encouraged but almost enforced in the future. An atheist with a Protestant background, grandparents who claimed Gaelic holidays would turn you pagan, she can appreciate the cultural aspects without compromising her dignity.

Namely, partaking in garb. Thoroughly unwilling to submit herself to the idea that Crowley's "sexy librarian" look was all the rage, she selects something more thematically appropriate to the costume parties she might find back home.

...she does, however, feel a little self-conscious upon arrival, as 'outrageous clothing for fun' isn't within her general purview. Evelyn gravitates toward the alcohol for more conventional succor in lieu of conversation, but it certainly doesn't mean she won't socialise if given half the chance.]

[vampdetective]

[Angel had stopped in to the library to briefly go over the potential project Evelyn had in store for him after their last encounter over the network, but with Faith's arrival and other recent events, namely the Curse of Shattered Sight, he's been a bit preoccupied-- which means their interactions have been limited, something he feels he should aim to rectify.

If he's going to prove himself trustworthy, after all, he'll have to be consistent.

While he lacks his own costume, he smiles a little as he approaches with his travel mug in hand, pulling up beside her at what passes for the bar for the evening.]

You look like you feel a little out of place.

[Him, too, if for entirely different reasons.]

Your costume is--

[Revealing? He clears his throat faintly, glad vampires aren't prone to blushing.]

Great. You look great.

[intelligently]

( It's a party, which means that of course Lydia is in attendance. Although Halloween doesn't hold quite the same meaning any more she can still enjoy a party. And she has yet to see any monster costumes.

At first Evie's costume doesn't make Lydia bat an eye, there's people dressed (and undressed) as everything (and everyone) but when Lydia sees who is in the costume? She just has to approach )

Very period appropriate.

( Lydia herself has gone with something period, but a lot further back. She's gone Greek. One specific Greek, though )

Wirt | OTA

[singloversing]

[Wirt's...not one hundred percent clear on whether he's actually invited to this party or not. It seemed like she invited everyone, but the last conversation they had ended with her laughing at him and picking on him so maybe he's not really welcome? But...what if she picks on him for not coming? Ad it seems like everyone's going, so...maybe.

He hovers on the edge of the party though, more of a wallflower than anything. Honestly he's not super in the mood for a Halloween party at the moment, seeing as he's learned some alarming things about himself and his questionable mortality in the last day or two - if they're true. Which he's still kind of hoping they aren't. Maybe he's fine Dipper just blew the whole thing out of proportion......or, maybe Wirt likes lying to himself and living in denial. That's equally possible. He sure doesn't want to think about it though.

As for his costume...he both is and isn't in costume. Technically he's wearing a costume, but it's the same Halloween costume he's been wearing literally all year.]

[powerofmabel]

[How Mabel managed to hide behind a set of spooky curtains against the back wall wearing a hoopskirt covered in metal is anyone's guess, but while Wirt hovers in the back, Mabel, in true Mabel fashion, pokes her head out from behind the curtain and cheerfully exclaims:] HI WIRT!

[it's not Halloween if you don't give someone a heart attack, apparently.]

M!Blake | OTA

[thatgrayarea]

[ Being a coward, Mirror John Blake, better known to most as just "Johnny," has no problem hiding out on the Real Side, even if he knows there are very distressing consequences waiting for him when (or if) he returns. Fortunately, and most unfortunately, he loves himself a little too much to face down the Jabberlizards. His counterpart is a hero, isn't he? He'll let his Real do the hard work because that's much better than being afraid.

In the meantime, he sees no issue with attending April's party. He's invited, after all.

Dressed as a newsboy, he comes complete with his own ominous warning (as well as his most accurate representation of how he sees his Real: dull and utilitarian). ]

Wonderland in Chaos, Help Nowhere to be Found!

[ He shakes his newspaper and then pulls down his cap and heads for the food. ]

James Potter | OTA

[pottershotter]

[James has been looking forward to this party for a while now. He's sociable enough, and at home it wouldn't have even been a question - he loves Halloween. It's just that Wonderland manages to ruin it every year somehow, and it seems like there's a looming threat of a Jabberwocky attack once again, and even if Wonderland somehow didn't manage to do something terrible, just being there's is enough.

Mentally, he's twenty-one. It's Halloween. After tonight, he'll have officially lived in Wonderland longer than he's supposedly going to live at home.

It's not a very happy thought, but James is trying to push through it and just have a good time. He's refusing to give himself a reason to be melancholy tonight, if he can help it. He has a wonderful wife and fantastic friends and he is going to have a good time, Merlin be damned. Wonderland be damned. When he's not with Lily or Sirius, James can be found making the rounds around the party. He's dressed as a dog and if you look around elsewhere you might spot Sirius dressed up as a deer, because James and Sirius like to think they're hilarious.]

[lightgunhustler]

[Much like James, Jo is expecting the worst out of Halloween-- she has yet to see one go off without a hitch since arriving in Wonderland, but the party is a welcome distraction, and it's been something to look forward to aside from the usual feeling of dread significant dates seem to incite here.

She grins as she walks over to him, beer in hand, spotting him alone for the first time since he'd turned up earlier in the evening. She, too, is dressed to match someone else, though she think James and Sirius' pick for a 'couple's' costume is pretty damn clever.]

Enjoying yourself, 'Padfoot'?

Stan Pines | OTA

[charlastan]

[Stan's always been a fan of both Halloween and Summerween. An excuse to dress up in weird costumes, scare the pants off of children, and eat candy for every meal for days? It's the best holiday out there and ever since Stan wound up in Gravity Falls he's been able to celebrate it twice a year. Suck it, other dimensions!

Stan's decided to go with an old standby this year, all one piece because he's never had an ounce of shame in his entire life. He's having a great time at the party too, which is to say he's being a general nuisance to everyone else. He's been prodding people with his pitchfork and then acting like he didn't, and finding every occasion to cackle maniacally and harass everyone around him. He even cheated at bobbing for apples by spearing the tub with his pitchfork like a fisherman, and proceeded to walk around eating his three victory apples right off the prongs.

To be honest, he's also there because Dipper and Mabel are, but he's not hovering over them or even supervising at all really. He's not the greatest chaperone, but at least he's within earshot.]

[powerofmabel]

[As chaos descends upon the party, and Dipper makes plans to leave for the Mirror Side, Mabel knows what she must do. And what she must do involves distracting her Grunkle with everything she has, which would be a feat for anyone else. For Mabel, it's pretty much what she was built for.

Stealth isn't her forte even when she's not currently decked out in a hoop skirt with metal panels, so when she runs up to him, it's with a clanging noise that adds to the horror movie ambiance of the lizard invasion.] Grunkle Stan! Is it just me or has this party gotten way too intense?

[she swats a jabberlizard with her plunger.]

Sam Yao | OTA

[voiceinthedark]

[While Sam had appreciated Crowley's suggestion that he dress up as a D20, and it might be a cool costume to think of sometime, he actually had another idea in mind. It was one that he'd always wanted to do, but never really had chance. His dad would have gone spare. And they'd never had the right supplies at Abel.

Which is why Sam walks into the ballroom wrapped in a long black cloak. It reaches to his ankles which are a few inches further off the ground than normal because of the high heels.

And that's not all. He's a little shy at first, and maybe it had been a mistake, but other people are dressed up and it's a kind of traditional Halloweeny costume, so eventually he throws off the cloak and makes a good go of it. And looks fabulous.]

[actualwizard]

[He had seen Sam when he first came in but he had been across the room with Loki and Verity but he's kept an eye on him all night waiting for the best time to go say hi. He's been surprised when Sam had taken off the cloak but he had smiled, Sam looked good, Teddy would have loved it.

He waits until he sees Sam alone and with no drink in his hand, grabbing two bottles of beer he makes his way over, holding one out for him to take.]

You look good.

Darcy Lewis | OTA

[sorryitasedyou]

[The most effort Darcy had put into her costume had been her nails, and even then it was more time consuming to get the right stickers from the closet. After everything, actually slipping on a costume seemed a little ridiculous given everything that seemed to hit the fan around here. She blames Bucky and partially Natasha for that little voice in the back of her brain asking if the shoes are sensible enough to book it in.

The room is fantastic, earning a lift of her eyebrows with a huge smile of appreciation because wow. Yeah, okay this is awesome and everything she'd been hoping for in terms of a fun night. She really did love Halloween, even if this place seemed to make it feel like Halloween every day.

She spends most of her time perusing the food, picking through the candy for the good ones before taking a sip of her beer and oh wow ok maybe the beer with the candy wasn't such a hot combo.

She doesn't stick around long, though, not when the weird lizard things start invading. Feel free to find her kicking a few as she books it right out of the party and up to the 7th floor. There was crazy and then there was psychotic. Guess who has two thumbs and isn't in the mood for this level of a party? This guuuuuuuuurl.]

Post-Midnight | 7th Floor

[supercilioustendencies]

[See, the thing about the orders he was given, Steve didn't specify what side of the mirrors he was to stay on. He understood it as all-encompassing. So as the little jabber-freaks broke their way through the barriers dividing the two realities, he followed. Keep killing them until there are no more left. He's met with his Real and persuaded him to aid the cause. A little force had to be used, but that was Tony Stark for you.

So as Darcy dashes down the hallway of the 7th floor, she would notice 'Tony' in a maroon button-down shirt, red-orange blue-blocker sunglasses, black slacks, slicked back hair, and a rather sleek looking gun in hand with an interesting muzzle. The other hand was clothed in a black and gold gauntlet that resembled Iron Man's with a red repulsor set in the palm. If he was dressed for Halloween, 'douchebag' was the label on his costume... Alternatively, 'HYDRA Attack Dog' would also suffice. Something odd would be the red glow of an arc reactor seeping through the shirt. Odder still was that Tony actually didn't show at the party.

Anthony was stepping out of his Real's room, pulling the door shut behind him when he sees the woman sprinting down the hall, a lizard hot on her heels, whether she knew it or not. The gun was aimed at her, then past her at the last second and a pulse so similar to a repulsor blast strikes the skittering creature and the small reptile seems to detonate. More than a repulsor blast.

Protecting Reals wasn't part of his orders, but killing Jabberlizards was.]

Angel | OTA

[vampdetective]

[Angel has never been great at parties. What's more, he has very mixed feelings about Halloween in general-- it's supposed to be a day off for all things demonic, usually the quietest night of the year in his line of work. By all accounts, he should be sitting in the corner of his room with a book and opting out of any social engagements-- though that wouldn't be all that different from most other nights of the year for him.

Part of why he's turned up is to be consistent with his continued efforts to become more of a people person. He's made some progress, and doing so is more important to him than ever since Angelus' tour of Wonderland at the beginning of the year. There's also the matter of the mirrors, and the fact that he's heard tapping and seen hurried messages scrawled across several of them over the past couple of days. Whatever is happening is currently contained to the Mirror Side, but he doesn't expect things to stay that way for long. In fact, if something is going to happen, he would bet money on it being tonight-- and any place where lots of people are gathered is an ideal breeding ground for catastrophe.

He doesn't bother dressing up, and can be found lurking against one of the walls with his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched forward, wearing his usual black-on-black. It's been awhile since he's had any need to deviate, and while he'll occasionally wear a little color, black seems extra fitting for Halloween. He'll spend most of the night people-watching, on the alert for anything that seems out of the ordinary, though he'll noticeably abstain from trying any of the food, drinking something from a black travel mug he'd brought for himself instead.

If anyone asks what his costume is, he could always just tell them he's a 90's vigilante.]

[araneidal]

[ Well, here's a Little Miss Muffet with — a travel mug rather than curds and whey. Along came a spider and sat down beside her — you know the story. ]

Let me guess. Neo? You're missing the glasses.

[ Natasha herself is not a party person. Nobody had to talk her into this, there's just a message on her small mirror in her room that says Boo. signed with an hourglass. It could be nothing. She never bets on that possibility. ]

[ So here she is, dressed as her favourite spider, smiling at him politely. ]

Lily Potter | OTA

[exceedinglybright]

[It's a significant Halloween for James, something Lily is keenly aware of, and as such, she'd outright insisted that they come-- not that it had taken much persuasion. In fact, it hadn't taken any at all; Halloween was bigger than Christmas as far as witches and wizards are concerned, and even with the threat of a potential attack looming, celebrating was practically mandatory. Still, she carries her wand with her, carefully concealed-- just in case.

While James and Sirius had cleverly dressed to match, Lily opts to do something different, though she still spends a great deal of her evening with the dog and stag in question, unwilling to drift too far from James in particular. He needs to enjoy himself and smile tonight more than anything, and she can be seen pulling him out on the floor to dance with her on more than one occasion. Otherwise, she'll be happily making the rounds, as bright and social as she can manage while still keeping a worried eye on her husband, and can be found almost anywhere in the ballroom throughout the night-- though she'll be giving those corpse decorations a slightly wider berth.]

[pottershotter]

[Truthfully James doesn't ever venture far from either of them - if he's not dancing with Lily then he's joking around with Sirius and if he's not doing either then he's at least within earshot of both of them. He's very, very aware of what today is for him, and he's been frank with both of them about it, and even though they haven't been stuck in Wonderland as long as him, they've both been very understanding.

To others, he probably seems like himself, fluttering through the crowd, but to his friends it may come off differently - he's nervous. He's nervous, and he feels silly and unlike himself for worrying, but every Halloween has been bad thus far. He wouldn't put it past Wonderland to strike him dead just for laughs.

But he refuses to think about it. No. Instead he returns to Lily's side, two drinks in hand and offers her one.]

Having fun, Princess? [It's not among his usual terms of endearment, but since she dressed up as a fairy princess she should really expect it by now.]

[intelligently]

( After finding out that monsters were real Halloween had never really had the same impact for Lydia. The parties were still great but seeing people dressed as fake monsters? Thankfully at this party, and April had really gone all out for it, there weren't any fake monster costumes, just costumes (and maybe some real monsters).

Lydia had gone with just a costume, going back to Ancient Greece, although rather than being a goddess she's just a mathematician. Of course she is.

Whilst Lydia might be keeping away from the (fake) dead bodies she is enjoy the snacks and drinks, and maybe looking for the host to give her a thumbs up on the party planning. It's high Lydia praise )

[assistanting]

[aw, lydia, she appreciates the thumbs up even if she's not great at showing it. lydia can be here to give the praise leslie would give her, if she were here.]

Looks like Wonderland didn't spoil everything.

[yet]

faith lehane | OTA

[sponsored]

[ it's with a bit of awkward that faith finally gives in, entering the ballroom dressed in a very notable jumpsuit, complete with tools of the trade. who ya gonna call?

it's been forever since she's actually dressed up to celebrate halloween (though she will insist her batman tshirt definitely counted) and surprisingly, after a bit she seems to be having a decent time. you can't really go wrong with candy and booze, anyway. she dances, she chats, and she probably accidentally hits more than a few strangers with her giant nonfuctioning plastic proton pack in accidental greeting. oops.

and when the proverbial feces hit the fan, even the very real daggers in her boots do her no good as she moves to defend the less fighty reals from the jabberlizards. it's embarrassing on two levels, given her calling and her costume, but faith is unmade in short time, eyes flicking open yellow after being taken. ]

( ooc | feel free to jump in anywhere, or hit me with something related to the above. only restriction is angel will be nabbing jabberfaith and tossing her in a cell <3)