epidemiology | EVENT ★ ALL HALLOWS' EVE

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EVENT ★ ALL HALLOWS' EVE

ALL HALLOWS' EVE ( OCT 31 )

In Chantes, they say All Hallows' Eve is the night where the veil between this world and the next thins, allowing the souls of the dead to walk the streets. To disguise themselves from vengeful spirits seeking to carry out their last deeds, the cityfolk wear (sometimes outlandish) costumes, allowing them to revel in peace. Lanterns all around the city are lit to ward off evil spirits; wine and soul cakes have been left out as offerings. The civilians ask that you please don't steal them... or do, if you don't care what they think.

The festivities are more extravagant this year than ever before, despite the fact that supplies are lacking. The cityfolk need something to take their mind off of the ever-growing unease. There's a wonderful feast to behold in the city square, if you're willing to spend the coin. Locally grown meats, autumn vegetables like pumpkin and squash and turnips, and — of course — delicious baked sweets of all kinds. There's dancing and singing and general merriment, the people seeming relaxed now that the goblins have been confined into one area.

The revelry is open to all, but the food costs. Those who don't wish to pay can try their hand at begging door-to-door for sweets with the children, make some trades, or literally steal candy from babies.

The goblins celebrate the holiday in their own way, too. In their house of worship, the elder leads a prayer for the lost souls of the dead. There's copious amounts of alcohol amongst the outskirts, although they're somewhat lacking in food — it's difficult to get humans to sell to them these days. Even Graldia and her men are out enjoying the festivities, but they're also on the look-out for outsiders, ready to fight if need be.

All in all, the night goes swimmingly. With everyone on their different sides, it seems they can't fight. Then, like clockwork...

All the candles in the square go out, just as they had at the Festival of Illumination. For a moment, only darkness. Then the flames ignite again to show two bodies in the center of the square, side by side: one goblin, one human. Closer inspection shows they're dead, but they have no signs of wounds or anything that could suggest they were killed. It comes with no symbol, no words this time; it seems the culprit felt they had already conveyed a strong message. The square erupts into chaos as law enforcement pushes them back, away from the square. Word travels fast as they run back to their homes. Only one man looks on, unsurprised. His costume is scarce, and those who were jailed may recognize him, the suspiciously silent prisoner. The moment he notices someone looking at him, he turns his back and walks away towards the outskirts.

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[ Glee strolls the streets unadorned. Disguising herself doesn't come naturally to her, so she doesn't bother, but she has a healthy respect for ritual and death alike that makes her curious to observe this occasion. And Phoenix's words hang in the back of her mind -- Why do we only know about a goblin religion? Humans are clearly superstitious here. That superstition is most evident tonight, when both races are celebrating. If their religions didn't have a common origin, they were compatible enough to merge at some point...

Instead of seeking out goblin houses of worship this festival, she roams the streets looking for overt signs of human religiosity -- houses of worship, insignias, shared mannerisms, anything. She closes her eyes from time to time, too, searching for the markings of magic. Somewhere in the city, there's an answer.

And so, she's blocks away from the center of town when the lights go out. ]

[Phoenix decides against joining in on the human festivities, since he gets the feeling he's not going to be very welcome there right now. Not that it's so bad with the goblins, lack of food notwithstanding.]

[I wonder if I could get anybody to smuggle in some things over here? Even if just some wheat. I bet I could still bake a thing or two. Despite my experience being false. ...Um.]

[Of course, that means he misses the excitement. But he is talking with the goblins, getting to know them better, their beliefs. And maybe, if he can, picking up any hints of rumors going on about events in town among the goblins.]

OPTION A

[Accord is here as well, observing. Occasionally, she drinks from a glass of water, but she's never seen consuming anything else. Notably, she has a bandage on her cheek; she must have gotten injured somewhere.]]

To think Halloween traditions would exist here as well. Fascinating. I wonder if they have their own spooky stories?

OPTION B

[When the main event goes down, Accord straightens, and looks toward the square. Hmm.]

Recording.

Once again, festivities in this town have been interrupted by an unsettling sight: two bodies, one human, one goblin. This is a curious sight; it seems to place both species as equal. Could this mean some entity means ill on both sides? Either way, the culprits seem intent on maintaining tension in this town; I cannot help but feel this new incident is very carefully calculated

[She pauses, noting an anomaly in the crowd. Her brow furrows.]

Recording on hold.

[Silently, smoothly, she tries to make her way towards the direction the man is heading. She tries to make sure she stays out of sight.]

Edited 2015-10-31 03:43 (UTC)

[ A. ] WEARING GARLIC ON YOUR CLOTHES NEVER HELPED:

You’re walking down the street. It’s quiet— you feel you are alone, even though you aren’t—
A shiver crawls up your spine, and your stomach twists—
It’s either constipation, or the feel of eyes watching you.

Both things are terrifying. _{[ An ominous voice is heard, but nobody is seen. ]}
Ah, it’s coming for you now, to prey on your very soul— you have only a few seconds—
One…
Two..
Three..
_{[ There are children walking, pausing, and listening to this specter ( ??? ) that was speaking to them. Seemingly out of nowhere, Gintoki, handsomely ( ???? not really ) dressed in his costume for the evening, leaps out of the darkness with a threat: ]}

SACRIFICE ALL OF YOUR GARLIC TO ME, OR FACE A DRACU-CURSE! Bwwoooah!
_{[ Gintoki… you’ve got it backwards; vampires aren't attracted to garlic. Anyway, the jumpscare is enough to cause the children to run and scream, dropping any candy they may have had. Gintoki watches them go, then crouches down to collect all of the candy dropped. Yeah, just like that. Not being subtle at all. ]}

Aaaaa? No chocolate? How healthy are these kids? Their parents should be sued.

_{[ He has his pockets full. It looks like he has been banking this way. Care to point out how cruel this is (he's got a good reason for it) or maybe you’ll join him for a night of spooking others? It’s probably good nobody has told him that there are ghosts about this evening. ]}

[ B. ] IT’S NOT A PARTY UNLESS EVERYONE IS INVITED:

_{[ After he feel he’s gotten enough candy for himself, he’ll get to business, sure. A lantern is in his hand as he ventures towards the outskirts of the city. You may see him, still in his costume, wandering out on his very own. To him, this looks like maybe it would be a chance to try and bring these races together, or at least take note of their differences in celebration for the holiday.

Wouldn’t it be terrible if somebody sneaked up on him to scare him? Not many people know how jumpy he really can be— maybe it’s some to find out and explore with him.
He will be missing from the city when the lights go out. ]}

Edited 2015-10-31 06:12 (UTC)

early festivities | open

[If there is anything that Harry is quickly growing accustomed to in Chantes, it's not sticking out like a sore thumb. When everyone dresses up for the festivities, he drags out his robes and transfigures himself a wizard's hat, hoping that the two combined would be suitable as a costume. It's silly to think of, but no one ever required costumes at Hogwarts. That's how he's spent most of his Halloweens since he turned eleven, and he misses it now.

Hogwarts was home, after all, and he's a long way away from it.

Much like at the festival, Harry can be found buying food and trying to share it, or just trying to get a feel for what everyone has to say. He wishes he could get closer to the goblins, but he knows that there are certain boundaries that he has to respect. He also wishes he could bring them food, and he finds himself holding some before long, looking off in the distance where the goblins are cordoned to their place of worship.]

I wonder if anything can be done about it. [But he doesn't know if it can be, and he doesn't think it's his place. Not right now.]

after the dead appear | open

[When the candles go out and the bodies appear, Harry finds himself filled with a frustration that he can't seem to curb. His jaw sets, and his hands curl into fists at his sides. The message here seems to be clear: everyone is ripe for the picking. Had he been wrong to assume the disappearances were all human? And have the goblins been experiencing them, too?

What he also guesses is that there is magic at play. The lights had only gone out briefly enough for the bodies to appear. That's the only way that could have worked. His brows furrow underneath his hat, and he looks around at the other people present.]

Did anyone see what happened? [he asks, hoping that his voice raises above the chaos.

He does see the man that Loki had pointed out to him at the jail, but he's in no place to approach him. But he takes note of him, remembering what Loki had pointed out: those who have little to say often have a reason for it. Because they have something to hide.

Oh, he definitely has something to hide.]

Early Festivities:

[This is rather...fun. Almost reminding Sakura of previous festivals and celebrations back home at the shrines and in general. Halloween isn't quite such a huge event back in Japan, and neither is Christmas, in comparison to the huge celebrations in the US and elsewhere, but that doesn't stop her attending to see what is going on.

She's curious, and rather excited in seeing the merriment and dancing, the celebrations. It really does seem just what is needed after the fighting and the warning earlier. Enjoying herself and trying to make the most of it, she joins in to dance when asked and watches the festivities, trying some of the food with some of the money she has left. Possibly joining in the trick-or-treating with the local children if they might invite her along.

She's not entirely oblivious to the goblins, but she's not sure what she might be able to do without possibly making things worse. Bringing them food might not be appreciated by the humans. She just hopes they have enough and are also enjoying themselves for now at least.]

After the bodies:

[It's dark again, but before she has the chance to pull out the Light card or the Glow, the candles relight and everything is in chaos once more. Everyone is terrified again and she almost dreads what they might have found this time, even as she struggles against the crowd to try and find out for herself. It's difficult though, when most are far taller and stronger than her.

When she finally does make it to the square herself, even as the law enforcement urge her to head back home, she still catches sight of the bodies, a hand raising to her mouth and her eyes widening in shock, even as she pales a little. Sure, she has been in fights before, and people have been hurt, including herself, but she's never actually seen a body before. Let alone two. She doesn't get that close, that great a glimpse with the officers striving to urge her home, but it's enough.]

But....but that's...who?!

festival

[ It would be fitting to hit the streets, dressed as a ghost, sort of speak. It should have been in better circumstances, Alice felt, back in Oxford or even London, amongst people she knew. She felt like an actual adult, for once, dressed in a full gown with an actual bustle. She would have preferred Nanny to at least see her and fuss over her.

But Alice was content with the fact she may not go home, back to London again. Her only regret was the children she left behind. Eventually, she got irritated with the ghostly veil and had to push it up past her face, not caring if anyone recognized her.

Well, a few people, maybe. ]

bring out your dead

[ The sight of dead bodies isn't anything new for Alice.

There were plenty of dead in the asylum, from many things ranging from starvation or experiments gone bad. It was so commonplace, it wasn't that surprising for Alice to walk past or over them, and carry about her day.

Her expression is neutral, she barely reacts, other than managing a tired sigh. Dead bodies are not uncommon in her life, but that doesn't make it trivial for her. But Alice's lack of surprise nearly mirrors another. As soon as she sees him, she remembers where she saw that figure. The jail cell...? As soon as Alice recognizes him, he's gone. Muttering under her breath- ]

Well, that does little to douse suspicion.

Edited 2015-11-01 07:10 (UTC)

That's a curious costume.

[ It's 1875 where Alice comes from, "Dracula" hasn't even been published yet, and Alice stops and stares at him, trying to understand what he's dressed as.

She doesn't seem to get it and is a little hesitant to admit she's dressed as a ghost. ]

You do nicely in a caveat, by and by.

( Halloween really wasn't much of a thing in Storybrooke, either. it didn't occur to him how little happened during the curse until it was broken. or, really, until he was here. death was a heavy price to pay for that kind of clarity, but, he didn't have too much of a choice in the matter.

Graham had been keeping out of the troubles the best he can. the public squabbling in town square included. every time he makes the venture to town it seems to go badly, but he's braving it for the night of festivities. half because he's worried something will happen, and half because he hopes to check in on a few people.

Sakura included. she seems to be enjoying herself when he ventures over to say hello. )

Got something for you. ( that's not how Trick-or-Treating works at all, but he comes bearing a few candies to offer her. he had to pay for them, of course, it just seemed in the spirit of the day. ) Should I make you play a game to win it?

Edited (sorry forgot to specify) 2015-11-01 10:36 (UTC)

ＦＥＳＴＩＶＩＴＩＥＳ.

( he's starting to realize that venturing down into town is more dangerous than one would think. the hostilities of the humans and goblins really does bother him — human hatred toward things that were not the same as they were is something he's all to used to, and disgusted by. it makes him reluctant to spend much time at all in the village, it's just in the end he doesn't have much of a choice. he's got to make the best of this situation, and they all need to work together to try and find some sort of resolution.

so when he goes to the festivities for Halloween, half of it is because he's certain something is bound to go awry sooner or later and he wants to be there when it does. maybe he can find some sort of answers. even as he waits for the other shoe to drop, though, it's easy to get taken up in all the excitement.

he's watching the villagers swinging around the dance floor, expression a little distant. it looks fun, everyone seems to be delighted as they swing back and forth. he's trying to memorize the steps but... he's not sure he's ever danced before. what an odd revelation. now is probably not the time to start. )

ＡＦＴＥＲＤＡＲＫ.

( it was only a matter of time, wasn't it?

the dead bodies left behind in the square leave a sour pit in his stomach. all this death, fighting, destruction — for what? it feels as if that sort of terror might be impossible to escape, and there's little he wants more. the world suits the toned gray he's stuck in, suddenly. a miserable place and he's better off not properly feeling how devastating it tends to be.

he's going around, asking questions. trying to see if the dead are familiar to anyone, and if anyone saw anything. this place seems too few on answers but they need to keep trying, all of them do. )

[ As he crouches to collect the candy, he may sense someone standing over him. ]

Hey.

[ If he looks up to see Nico, he may also see her hand extended with her middle finger held back by her thumb. If he doesn't react in time, he's going to get a forehead flick.

(Nico may be dressed like a cat, but it's also possible that I may have forgotten to fill out my activity rewards form until yesterday and thus don't know whether she has it or not.) ]

_{[ That's fine. It's 18** when Gintoki comes from— Dracula probably technically wasn't invented then. Blame it on the aliens who took over Japan's government for that.. again.

Gintoki looks up at the voice and doesn't actually scream cause he recognizes Alice's voice.
But still. She looks pale. More pale than usual. Instead, his voice is hesitant: ]}

He-he-hey, ah, what.. what are you supposed to be? It's a ghost, isn't it? It shouldn't be a ghost— y..you're not a ghost.. !

_{[ Of course Gintoki doesn't react soon enough, so when his forehead is flicked, he's a bit too thick-skulled to give her too much of a reaction, but there is a disgruntled face nonetheless. Enjoy that wrinkled nose. ]}

You're not getting any it, got it?
_{[ any candy, you know. He assumes that's what you're after. ]}

[ Oh. That's right. He's afraid of ghosts, she nearly forgot. ]

I'm not wearing any white make up, I'm just dressed in white.

[ She just feels the need to correct him and is thankful he hasn't seen her at a complete rage. She tugs on the dress. ]

Well, I thought the dress was pretty.

Edited 2015-11-02 02:36 (UTC)

Hm? Ah! Graham-san!

[Sakura seems pleased enough to see him again, turning when she sees him approaching and pausing in her celebrations, saying to the others that they don't need to wait for her while she stops to chat to him if they might prefer to keep on at some other houses and people for more treats.

She has to laugh when he seems perhaps almost confused at the idea of the celebrations.]

It's trick or treat! I guess a trick could be like a sort of game though. You're not going to have them?

[Well, typically, the older one gets, the less they enjoy sweets. But even so, she hopes he keeps some for himself.]

[ That's disappointing. Last time she did it, it was on a high school girl who went down in one strike. Oh well. She puts her hands on her hips. ]

I don't want any! [ ...not actually true (Nico loves candy) but she doesn't want any out of that candy. ] And you shouldn't get any, either! I knew you were kind of a loser, but I thought you were above stealing candy from children! How could you?

[ I knew you were kind of a loser and also thanks for saving my life and building my stage ]

Edited 2015-11-02 07:40 (UTC)

[ As Gintoki goes rummaging through the children's baskets for candy, he might hear two sets of footsteps approaching - that of an adult, and that of a young child. The young child is puffing out her cheeks in a tantrum, crossing her arms and glaring in Gintoki's direction. She flinches when Gintoki glances at her, indicating that his act does still spook her a bit, but fights to maintain the courage to call him out. ]

He's the one! That ugly curly-head! He has my candy!

[ The adult she's with might be someone he's run into once or twice. It's Fai, and he's in a gaudy witch costume. His lips curl, becoming amused. Now here's a face he's seen before! ] Oh? Is that the evil vampire you were talking about?

[ The little girl nods adamantly. ] Yeah, him!! Kick his butt for me, mister!

Graham-san? ( he's not entirely sure what that means, and there's enough of a question in it that it's clear he's asking her for clarification. she seems happy to see him, though, and it's mutual. she's a bright spot in all of this, and a good reminder of the parts of humanity he likes to protect.

the older the person the less interested in sweets is the norm, but Graham still quite likes them. still, he got these with her in mind, hoping to make sure she enjoyed the celebration. he doesn't mind giving them to her, she probably deserves sweets more than he does. )

I already had some. ( he lifts his eyebrows. ) So a game it is? ( if she doesn't want to play he'll give them to her anyway, but she doesn't need to know that. )

Edited 2015-11-02 06:52 (UTC)

A: I JUST WANTED CAT EARS TO BE A THING (the day before Hallow's Eve)

[ The evening before the All Hallow's Eve festival, it isn't an uncommon sight to see pockets of children gathering together to talk about the costumes they're going as or the candy they're going to get. This particular pocket of kids are busy with making some costumes; some were cutting eyeholes in white sheets, and others were haphazardly modifying their parents' clothes to make some fairy-princess or jester. The handiwork isn't the best, but they appear to be having fun, and that was perhaps still in the spirit of the celebration. Because he's an easy-going person, Fai somehow ended up helping them out, handling the scissors for them or sewing in the buttons they fumbled with. He's a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. Fai himself is dressed as a witch for the event.

He'll be trying to rope in any ALASTAIR member he sees too - or whoever he assumes to be with ALASTAIR. Any unsuspecting character might get a headband with cat-ears plopped onto their hair. Even though it's a shoddy thing made out of cloth and some bent wire, he still steps back and nods in proud approval. ]

Ah ♥! Just as I thought, it looks cute on you!

B: THE SPOOPY MURDERS

[ It's almost the exact same thing as before. Lights were going out on their own, and strange, unexplained happenings were occurring in the lapses where everyone had their guard down. It all happened so quickly, too. One minute everyone was enjoying the celebration, and the next, they were all stunned into silence as the bodies laid lifelessly on the pavement floor. Within that lapse, there was not a single sign of an attack - no footsteps or screams. It's clear to Fai then that this was no ordinary attack. The victims were either poisoned in some way, or there was magic at play. As the crowd breaks out into hysteria, pushing and shoving to get out of the general vicinity, breaking out into little scuffles in their paranoia of each other, Fai remains remarkably composed. He's dealt with corpses many times in his life; a scene like this did not faze him at all.

I:Squatting over, he decides to investigate the bodies. ] We need to find out what happened to them. [ He reaches out, placing his hand onto the chest of the deceased goblin and shifting his palm slowly from side to side. There's a distinct clamminess to the flesh under his palm - the kind of chill one should expect from a corpse - but he ignores it in favor of his task. He's actually sensing for any trace of residual magic - the spell, if any, that had taken the victims' lives. ]

[ II: OR maybe you meet him a moment later, when he takes notice of the rather composed native standing in the heart of the chaos. Fai makes a point not to stare, but he's watching the individual from the corner of his eye. Out of all the others, he seemed the most composed. The one most casual about the situation. It made him an oddity.

There was always the chance that the assailant was still among the crowd, and pursuing him might be the only lead they have in figuring out the situation. Fai keeps his gaze fixed somewhere else, but it should be clear to the ALASTAIR traveler beside him just who he's referring to. ] There's one fellow here who's acting quite strangely. Do you see him?

[ Maybe they should follow him.... ]

Edited 2015-11-02 08:17 (UTC)

[It's a little more difficult given her hat, but not impossible for Fai to put the cat ears on Sakura. Though she doesn't immediately notice until she hears him and turns around more, almost seeming confused for a second before she registers.]

Fai-san! Wha--eh? [Give her a second. She fumbles a little and then feels the ears. Welp. Not the first time someone's put those on her, given one of Tomoyo's previous costumes she made for Sakura.]

Oh. You think so? My friend Tomoyo-chan made me some back home one time.

[ It sounds like the Tomoyo of this Sakura's world takes quite the liking to costume-making. It wouldn't be very different from the Tomoyo he managed to meet in Piffle World. ]

Did she? [ They sound like really good friends, too. Was that why Tomoyo and Sakura hit it off so easily in Piffle World? Because they were already friends in another reality? He wouldn't be surprised at all if that were the case. Fai pinches those ears again, his voice chipper. ] Tomoyo-chan has quite the eye for cute things! You make such a cute little kitty!

[ Swimming through the chaos, Fai reaches out for the small, vulnerable form standing in the midst of the crowd. From the distance away, he could hear the chatter of the townspeople as they made their way out; he already knew what to expect upon arriving on the scene. Bodies. It doesn't quite stop his heart the way it does Sakura. That would be because he simply was no stranger to the company of the dead.

It was still a ghastly sight, watching those bodies lie there lifelessly. Fai's first concern - before the bodies, before the hysteric people around them - is Sakura. ] Sakura-chan! [ Finally reaching her, Fai takes her shoulders, turning her away from the bodies in front of them. ] Are you okay? You shouldn't look anymore.

[ He wanted to protect her from the sight, but it's apparent that he's too late. ]

Yes! She made a lot of outfits for me back home. For a play, and when I was collecting the Clow Cards for Kero-chan. And her mother owns a big toy company, so she's always trying out new ideas for them too.

[The best of friends. So no, it's really not that surprising that the same occurred even in some alternate worlds with alternate Sakura or Tomoyo. She can't help looking a little sheepish at the compliment, face flushing as she gives a light laugh.]

Perhaps eventually. After all, that's what we're here for.

[A young woman approaches. There's a bandage over her cheek, but she's otherwise a fairly normal-looking, if somewhat bookish woman with a large white rolling suitcase. She doesn't appear to have bothered dressing up.]

I've seen a few people who could help unite sides given the the right support amongst our group. It's a lovely thought, isn't it?

_{[ nonchalantly: ]} Ah, well I figured— it's a festive kind of night, there's a lot of competition out to get the candy. Also, nobody would give me any when I asked. They said I was too old for it.

_{[ He slowly unwraps a small sweet. ]}

If I don't keep my blood sugar up, I could die. Kids don't need candy— they don't know how to appreciate it like I do.

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EVENT ★ ALL HALLOWS' EVE

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Gintoki Sakata | OPEN

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A - ........ /smacks with a book

early festivities!

graham humbert ➶ once

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fai d fluorite | ota

A because how can we ignore this adorable potential.

awwww

bodies

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Festivities

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