+ Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright! | OPEN +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: EVERYONE (if they want to live)
Where: EVERYWHERE (inside the mansion, knocking on doors)
When: 6/24 - 6/27
Rating: PG-13?
Summary: The Summerween Trickster has made his decree - Trick or treat...or die! This is a mingle log for Trick-or-Treating!
The Story:



On the morning of the 24th, everyone will find that the mansion was inexplicably decorated for Halloween...sort of. The idea behind the decorations is mostly the same, except that every jack-o-lantern is made out of a watermelon instead of a pumpkin. No, this is SUMMERWEEN.

For the first day it will be harmless enough, just a change in décor and a little spooky summer fun. However, by the second day there will be sightings of the Summerween Trickster, a creepy fellow made entirely out of unpopular loser candy, and he is not happy. In the entrance hall, there will be a giant jack-o-melon container with a counter and a count-down clock ticking away to the end of the event.

Your job, Wonderland, is to trick-or-treat for your lives. You have until the end of the event to deliver one million pieces of candy to the jack-o-melon before the end of the event, to appease the Summerween Trickster.

What was that? You'll just sit this out and wait for the event to end? I wouldn't do that if I were you. You see, the Summerween Trickster could be lurking around any corner. If he catches someone not fully embracing the spirit of Summerween (refusing to trick or treat, not wearing a costume, etc), they will not survive the experience. The Trickster will kill them and swallow them whole, making them part of his horrible loser candy body.

More details about trick or treating can be found here. This is a mingle post for trick-or-treating, if you'd rather use this than make a post! [Brackets] or prose are both welcome.

Comments

[morework]

[ You had him at "gather a small army", which incidentally is also the point after which Cullen stopped listening entirely. He nods, pleased. Pleased with the small army they will be gathering soon. ]

I'll contact them at once.

[ Which he does, immediately. He counts three seconds worth of impatient staring, and decides that he should probably look away from the device while he waits. At Hawke, preferably. ]

In the meantime we could-- ah. Hawke? [ Cullen points at- no, better, Cullen taps his cheek. Not much to see there, unlike the corresponding spot in Hawke's beard. ] Is the spider part of your costume?

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke eyes Cullen warily for a moment because honestly, that seemed too easy. But they'd come to agreement so he nods and waits.

Idly, he notes that Cullen seems to have gotten comfortable with the device. Enough to use it without issue, at least.]

Hm? [Wait. What?] No...?

[His eyes go wide as he realises what Cullen means and his hand comes up to swipe at his cheek wildly. What follows would be incredibly embarrassing if he cared about anything but getting the spider off.]

Did I get it?!

[Spoiler: No.]

[morework]

[ Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't-- All right, a grin is fine. ]

You handle the larger ones better. [ To be fair, being able to use fire probably helps. Still, a grin is fine. ] I can-- [ --just get it quickly, provided it doesn't bury itself deeper in Hawke's beard, which of course it would try-- got it. ] ...get it for you.

[ He holds the critter between his fingers briefly, because the way Wonderland has adorned itself today- it would pass as decoration, if not a piece of candy itself. Besides the point, Cullen thinks, and lets the spider drop to the floor, where it finds its end under his boot. ]

Let me guess, trick?

[ He's had the questionable pleasure of receiving an explanation, demonstration included, of that particular aspect of the holiday before. ]

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke is too busy internally freaking out to notice Cullen's own struggle. Later he might think about how a grown man dressed in sort of mabari themed robed screamed like a child because of a tiny spider in his beard in front of the object of his affections and slam his head against a wall a few times.]

I've never had the larger ones in my mouth before. [He is not pouting as he waits for Cullen to get it. As it's plucked from his beard, a shudder ripples through him because how long was it there?]

Thank you. [Maker, he could kiss you right now Cullen. He nods.] One of the doors threw a bunch of them in my face. How is that even a trick? It's just cruel. [He heaves an incredibly put upon sigh.] Have you had much trouble?

[morework]

No, the danger with larger ones is the other way around.

[ He looks over Hawke's face carefully, but the eight-legged attacker came alone. ]

One of the doors threw a mouse at me. Just one, nothing to call trouble. Something to call trick much the same way as gathering offerings for a demon is supposed to be a treat.

[ Which is to say not very. At all. In any way. Cullen shakes his head. ]

We'll be done with it soon enough, we just have to-- [ --wait for a response, the arrival of which his device signals with a beeping sound. Cullen reads the message eagerly. At least the first time.

Then his brow furrows, and he reads it again. A deeper frown. A third attempt. The words aren't improving. He sends a message of his own, but holds the device out for Hawke to take, the reply on plain display. ]

Can you make sense of that?

[bloodmagics]

You've clearly never had a spider in your mouth if you think the large ones are worse.

[He makes a face because he's fairly sure he'll never get that hairy taste out of his mouth, even if he ate all the candy in Wonderland]

It doesn't sound like the demon part is typical? So the treat part I understand, if the aim is to get a bunch of candy and eat it yourself instead of offering it to a demon. [His lips twist, not quite a smile and not quite a frown.] Thedas' holidays make so much more sense.

[Hah.

He takes the device and reads the message several times over. Now his mouth turns into a smile because he's pretty sure this means he wins.]

I think it means what it says, Cullen. I hope you're hungry.

[morework]

I never said worse. At least you notice when the large ones crawl into your armor.

[ Yes, there is a story. No, he will not breathe another word about it.

(Not least of all because he is too preoccupied staring incredulously between Hawke and the message.) ]

How could you even possibly-- [ He pinches the bridge of his nose. On second thought, he'd rather not even begin to imagine. ] Never mind, I won't be responsible for anyone- eating a demon. Spirit. Whatever this creature is supposed to be. If we can't fight it--

[ Cullen's shoulders slump, as he tragically recalls that there were more words beyond "gather a small army", after all. ]

Then you win, Hawke. We stick to your plan.

[bloodmagics]

[...Wait. Wait. Waaaait.]

There's a story there, I can tell. Was it in there for weeks? Did it lay eggs in your armour? I'll tell you about the time Carver broke his nose trying to impress Peaches if you tell me.

[Oh he's... getting off topic.]

Sorry. More important things right now.

[Hawke manages to restrain himself from doing more than grinning in triumph, reaching out to pat Cullen on the shoulder.]

There's no need to look so sad, Cullen. I swear you'll have fun, and if you don't, I'll make it up to you, okay?

[morework]

[ Eggs. He shudders. Really, how often does Hawke think his armour needs to be polished? Because if the answer isn't daily... ]

Weeks? Maker's breath, one sermon worth of it was enough. And there were no--

[ Wait. Cullen clears his throat. ]

More important things right now. As you say.

[ He turns to knock on a door. The phrase is lodged in his throat, almost defiantly. But he swallows, and forces it out with a sigh. Trick or treat, with no trace of mirth whatsoever. ]

...It's a promise then, is it? Though I can't imagine anything that would make up for this, let alone make it--

[ The door opens. A large trout comes flying through, and slaps Cullen in the face. ]

--fun.

[bloodmagics]

Well, I was hoping there was a story there, but I suppose not ending up with spider infested armour is better.

[He sounds incredibly put upon for just a moment, joining Cullen at the next door.]

That sounds like a challenge, Cullen. Are you sure you want to -- [He starts to grin as he speaks, until something slimy swipes his face and smacks Cullen in his.] Ahahahahaha -- Oh, Maker, I'm sorry. Are you alright?

[He's trying so hard not to snicker.]