+ 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

[heroica]

If they were given candy, then I could see why. And... you can dress up and spend time with your friends... [ She chuckles lightly, looking wistful. ] I wish that we had something like that.

[ They have other holidays that are fun, but not this one, exactly. Everyone wants what they can't have, right? ]

And no monsters. [ Robyn laughs a little, shaking her head. ] Good. That would be the ideal in this situation, I think.

[ It's still fun in Wonderland, but children shouldn't have to worry about anything like that. ]

post-hiatus tag, totally ok if you drop!

[normandysbest]

Yeah, this holiday doesn't usually literally include monsters. The mythos behind it is that you're supposed to dress up to confuse the monsters as they visit for one day so they won't attack you, or something like that. But there's not actually a monster.

[Leave it to Wonderland to take exactly that part seriously.]

But usually you end up with a candy haul to last weeks. Or a few days if your parents aren't paying attention.

[She got so sick that one year. It was absolutely worth it.]

never!!

[heroica]

And... that's what we're doing, isn't it? [ She breathes, blinking, as the understanding dawns on her. ] Though I can't say a costume would stop any monsters from my world.

[ Has anyone tried that? The idea brings a smile to her lips. ]

That does sound like a lot. [ Robyn giggles. ] I can only imagine that my brother and I would have fought over what we got.

bawww /w\

[normandysbest]

Wouldn't stop any of mine, either. But I guess it's fun to pretend.

[As she said to Miranda, she'd absolutely have done a jig in an animal suit if that's what it took to get the Reapers off her back. Hell, she'd record it and blast that shit across the galaxy straight into their sensors. But she feels like they wouldn't appreciate the joke.]

I've heard siblings would argue about the candy they got. I wouldn't know. Only child.

... What was he like? Your brother. Gotta assume he's not here too.

[heroica]

So long as it doesn't get anyone hurt. [ The Warden adds sagely, frowning slightly at the possibility. Children could be in danger, after all, thinking that something so simple might ward off true evil. Nothing like that could stop the blight, she thinks sadly. ]

Then you were pushed into the mud less than I was, I'll bet. [ She laughs lightly, hoping to alleviate any sadness Shepard may feel as a result of the admission. Robyn loved her brother, after all, and can't imagine having grown up without him. ]

Ah - No, he isn't here. [ Though her smile fades slightly, it doesn't vanish. ] I haven't seen him in almost a year. I've been told that he's safe, back home, but I wasn't sure...

[ That isn't what she asked, though, is it? The Warden blinks, then adds, quickly: ]

He's a good man. Very much like my father - like both of my parents, actually, in all of the best ways. He had a wife and a son, too, and they were-- It would be hard to find a happier family.

[ Before. She wets her lips, walking carefully around the subject. ]

[normandysbest]

Hah! Well, yeah, slightly. Had plenty of friends, and lived on a farming colony, so I think I got my fair share of mud-pushing. And getting kicked by horses.

[She can't help but notice, then, that Robyn gets uncomfortable about the subject. Something must've happened, but she's not going to push on it, so she tries not to pry.]

But, ah, that sounds nice. I never really had an extended family. Just my parents and I, before... well, hah, stuff went a little downhill. Just me now.

[Wow, way to veer directly from her problems into your own, Shepard. A++ on that one.]

[heroica]

You had horses? [ Again, Robyn brightens, glad to find so much common ground with a woman she respects and thinks a lot of. ] ... I didn't know. If you'd like, we could go riding sometime. Wonderland has stables, too.

[ And she takes advantage whenever she can. ]

I... [ She hesitates - am I really going to say it? - and then swallows, lowering her gaze. ]

You aren't alone in that. [ The Warden admits finally, quietly. ] Everyone at home was... slaughtered.

[ Strange to think back on it, having become as close with Nathaniel as she has. ]

I'm so sorry for your loss. [ She offers, still soft in tone. ]

[normandysbest]

Yeah, a long time ago. I haven't ridden in years, so I'd probably be plenty rusty, but... we should.

[She avoided it for a long time because it reminded her too much of Mindoir. But hey, when in Rome. Still, she softens at Robyn's words.]

I'm sorry for yours, too. Guess the universe is a scary place everywhere.

[And some things never change, like slavers and weapons and conquest.]

It's... I mean, it's been a long time for me. Like fifteen years at this point. Doesn't always weigh so heavy anymore.

[heroica]

All right. I won't forget.

[ Her smile turns gentle. It's a promise. ]

It really is. [ Robyn agrees solemnly. ] No matter where you are...

[ Shepard's world, her own world, and Wonderland. The Warden's smile fades into a faint frown as she considers it. ]

Time doesn't erase everything. [ She points out. ] One year or fifteen - It still happened, and it... weighs on you.

[ For a long time. Maybe forever. ]

[normandysbest]

[She sighs, still heavy. It's hard to remember, even after all this time. She doesn't think of herself as a child when it happened, but she was still kind of a kid. Not quite 18, not even close. Just after her sixteenth birthday.]

Well, you're not wrong. But that goes for you too. I said it before, but, I get that sort of thing, if you need to talk to someone about it. I talk to my squad about their issues all the time.

[But not about yours, Shep, and that's a problem you have.]

[heroica]

And what of your own? [ She asks slyly. ] I hope someone presses you to do the same.

[ Don't bottle those things up, says the pot to the kettle! ]

Thank you for the offer. I hope you know that you can come to me with the same.

[normandysbest]

Hah. When I can. Don't wanna bother 'em, you feel?

... But thanks. I appreciate it.

[It's hard for her to actually... not be an ass about opening up about her feelings. Whoda thunk.]

You wanna keep goin', pick up more candy? I'm sure the Trickster won't get us if we eat a few pieces.

[And she's finding herself liking Robyn's company more the more often they see each other.]

[heroica]

I do. [ She concedes, but is quick to add: ] But you can't take away their ability to care for you as you do for them. That's what your friends and family are for, isn't it?

[ In her mind, anyway. ]

Mm, all right. [ Robyn smiles again, glad to try and get Shepard to open up, but also happy to just... wander. To be carefree, even if it's only for a few hours. ] If he comes, we can deal with him then. Both of us.

wrapped probably?

[normandysbest]

I don't even think he could take one of us. With both there's no way.

[Still, she smiles. Robyn... gets it. Better than a lot of people here.]

Let's get 'em.