[003]- Ecruteak Inn (Video/Action)

[brokencode]

 Video:

[Angel stared at her device intently. She'd seen a great deal of chatter about the upcoming festivities, a holiday known as Halloween. While Lust had done a good job of explaining the meaning and what it all entailed, there was still some amount of confusion. 

Thus far, everyone on the network had been helpful enough. She figured it couldn't hurt to ask another question or two.] 

Good afternoon, friends. [Angel had been doing what she could to relax her speech patterns of late, but even still, the formality slipped in.]  I was hoping you could answer a query of mine. 

I've heard lots of talk of trick-or-treating. It seems like a lovely thing-- who would not want candy? However I'm... a bit confused on the details. [Maybe it was just her, but the idea of visiting people she didn't know and asking for candy seemed odd, even a little frightening.]  Do people <i>really</i> give out candy? They just... hand it over? Is that a normal custom, or is it exclusive to some towns.

[In addition to her safety concerns, she also worried about doing something foolish or, worse still, being an inconvenience.]

 

 

 

Action: 

 [Angel sat outside of the inn, legs crossed and her eyes closed. A chill had taken to the air, sending shivers down the former siren's spine. Despite the chill, Angel refused to turn in, or even to grab a jacket.

It had been nearly two months since her death, two months she had arrived in this strange place. Yet she still tasted the recycled air from her former prison, still felt the strange, sticky heat of her chamber. The wind, as deeply as it chilled her, was a strange comfort. 

She watched the pokemon that passed her field of view. She smiled at the peaceful Drifloon, and scowled at the Murkrow that watched Adorababy, who was nestled tightly in her lap, rather hungrily. Beside her, Mari also glowered, prepared to do whatever she needed to keep her darling safe. 

The only pokemon missing was Sentret, who had tired himself out with a game of tag earlier in the day. Despite Angel's urging, he stubbornly remained in bed. 

It was that thought, the idea of resting in a warm bed, that drew Angel from her reverie. She stretched her bony limbs out before standing up and turning to face the door. Unless nothing was needed of her, it was time to retire. ]

Comments

video

[islandshore]

It's not just about candy. Technically, you gotta dress up in a costume. Preferably something scary. Then you go door to door, and sometimes you get health foods instead of actual treats, but...

[He shrugs.]

It's pretty normal where I'm from, even if it's usually reserved for kids.

[And as he's now in his twenties, he doubts he'll be going himself.]

video

[brokencode]

Oh. [As much as she might have looked it, her childhood was long gone. Couple that with the idea of having to look scary...]

[Guess she'd have to count herself out.]

We had something similar back home but... [But like everything, it was morbid and blood-filled. The future really changed things...]

I guess it's a shame I wasn't whisked away much earlier in my life. [For more reasons than one.]

video

[islandshore]

Eh, no one says you can't do it now, even if it is mostly a kid thing. If you wanna try, then try it. I mean, it's free candy, right?

[But, hey. It's mostly her call. He's not gonna push one way or the other.]

action;

[secondhandsome]

[Angel might find that suddenly there is someone trying to get her attention, actually. No, not a person. This interruption is a whole lot tinier than any human.

Right by her feet, a little Espurr has just a paw on one of Angel's legs, lightly tapping it, trying to be noticed already. Well. She doesn't look like a wild Pokemon at all. What's up with that, huh?]

action;

[brokencode]

[Angel quirked a brow at the tiny creature. For a moment, she glanced around, expecting Anders to be nearby. But the creature lacked both the tunic and the scrubs she had seen him in recently.]

[Who then?]

Are you lost, friend? [Angel knelt down once more, scratching the Espurr's head.] Can I help you at all?

action;

[secondhandsome]

[The Espurr just stares intently at Angel, even as she gets her head scratched. There's a sound that's almost like a purr that betrays that she does enjoy that, even if you can't exactly tell in her expression. At the question, she just tilts her head slightly. No, mostly she's just curious.

But no time to dwell on that. Someone's looking for her. Tim's just walking back to the inn, looking all around him. Upon spotting the Espurr, he looks relieved.]

Geez, there you are, May. Don't go off on your own like... [And then it actually registers who she's with. Oh. Well.] Ah... uh...

Hey.

action;

[brokencode]

[Angel's body tensed up. Her hand very nearly tightened against the cat, fists threatening to ball up into fists. She managed to jerk her hand back from the cat, burying her hands at her side. It would only figure that Jack had come for her. She had spurned him one too many times, and now...]

[Before she could finish her thought, sense overtook her. She'd heard enough of the chatter between Janey and Athena. She breathed a sigh of relief, and gave a gentle nod to Timothy.]

Are you well? [As if he actually could be. Not after all she had heard.]

Video

[dreamsofahero]

It's quite a normal custom in this world, yes. Not in general, of course, but as part of the holiday. Children dress up in costumes and go door to door, asking "trick or treat", and the people who live in the house will give them candy. I can only presume the idea behind the saying is that it's preferable to give a "treat" than receive a "trick", but as far as I can tell no one pays that part any mind...

Video

[brokencode]

So it is a children only sort of holiday? Is that what I am to conclude? [How saddening.]

Re: Video

[dreamsofahero]

Children and their chaperones, yes. Adults generally participate by handing out the candy, though some may host or attend parties and such.

Re: Video

[brokencode]

[Her lips pressed into a tight frown, perhaps even a pout.]

How discouraging. [She wanted to get candy, not hand it out to other people.]

video

[chickensdontclap]

Sometimes you get pennies or frozen bananas instead, but, yeah, I guess that's the general idea.

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[brokencode]

Frozen... bananas? Why on Pandora would they give out frozen bananas? [And how do they keep frozen?]

[chickensdontclap]

Had them lying around and needed to clear out the inventory somehow.

[brokencode]

Are you... saying you've done this?

[What kind of horrible, awful person is he?]

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

It does sound odd, doesn't it? It harkens back to ancient traditions, where it was all symbolic. Children - and adults, as well - would dress as demons and witches and other things that people lived in fear of. By giving the costumed door-to-door goers small gifts and treats, it was thought to appease the spirits.

But now it's simply a fun tradition. I usually take Wrath, but he has Halloween plans with others this year.

Would you like to see what all the fuss is about?

Video

[brokencode]

That all sounds delightful. [Well, not the demons necessarily. But the rest of it sounded like a sweet sentiment.]

I... might like that. But... would it be alright if my friend came along as well? He's a bit... big. And unruly. But he means well.

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Oh yes, that's fine. My entire family's unruly, but mean well. We could go after I've finished work.

Video

[brokencode]

Sounds wonderful. I'll be ready.

... Um... one thing though. Do you think you could help me with something. Just... just my makeup.

[action]

[kissmyaspis]

[Things have been... not tense the past few days, but there's something hanging between them that Athena, being Athena, hasn't really addressed. So it might be a little awkward when she steps out of the inn just as Angel turns to move in. The awkwardness is compounded by the fact that, while Athena doesn't look as bloodied as she did when she returned to the inn after the confrontation, the bruise around her eye is still fading, her lip is still a bit scabbed over, and her hands are still bandaged. All glaring proof of what she did to Jack.

The lack of her scarf around her neck is also glaringly obvious, but that's less awkward and... more serious.]

... You're usually not out this late.

[... nice conversation starter, athena]

[action]

[brokencode]

[Angel gazed at the woman for a moment, slackjawed and dumbfounded. She hadn't expected this. It was true that things were uneasy between them, just as it was true that Angel hadn't gone out of her way to talk to Athena. It'd been long enough that she didn't actually know what to say for a moment.]

[She sputtered for a moment, then gave a sharp nod.]

I've had more energy lately, is all. I don't need to sleep as much. Besides I figured... [She glanced at her Pokemon.] I figured we needed some fresh air.

[action]

[kissmyaspis]

[Athena's jaw clenches briefly as Angel looks at her. Normally she doesn't give a damn what people think about her, but the little group here... that's supposed to be different.]

I don't blame you. Things haven't exactly been peaceful lately.

[And she doesn't sound guilty at all...]

... That's good, that you're more energetic. Are you looking for more things to do now?

video;

[arcanaeum]

It depends where you are. I don't know about here, but...back home, people liked dressing up for it.

[ Nobody he knew, but still. He pushes back some of the hair falling over his own eye and thinks on it a little more. ]

Nobody gave out candy.

[ Which is the worst part of all, clearly. ]

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[brokencode]

[Angel, undoubtedly, looked rather horrified at the concept.]

No candy? [Awful, absolutely awful.]

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[arcanaeum]

[ Someone understands. He likes this girl already. Minato gives a very serious nod, eyes lowered. ]

Mm. You can still buy it, but none is given out.