october: free for all | ❝ lurking in the shadows ❞

[quickfingers]

WHO: EVERYONE? Anyone. (And Peter.)
WHERE: X-Fam House, Nonah.
WHEN: Friday the 13th!
WHAT: Giant ass Halloween party. On Friday the 13th. YOU ARE ALL INVITED.
WARNINGS: tbd, probably some disaster.
NOTES: So this party's invites are pretty scattered so if you have CR with Peter, you can feel free to assume you've been invited (if he hasn't literally ic inboxed you) or found an invite/ heard about the party from anyone else and are still welcome to have fun! Feel free to plurk me (valleyheart) if you have questions but aside from Peter's top level, it's free game to do what you want!



The Invitations

[If you're a friend of Peter you might've been invited personally, but even so you might find one of these bad boys slipped your way, in your mail or taped to the inside of your next pizza order leading up to the 13th. On the back of the invitation is a hand scrawled address in Nonah, the home of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr - if you're familiar, you're familiar. If not, doesn't matter, 'cause it's Peter's disastrous party about to go down and you're still welcome.]

The House

[The party takes place at the "X-Fam" house in Nonah, which some of you may remember hosted a bbq not too long ago. Yeah, the place where Erik and Charles live - not that this party's sponsored by them in any shape, way or form. In fact it's more of a "while the cat's away, the mice will play" type scenario because asking permission to hold a killer party is not something Peter did.

He was responsible enough however to use caution tape to cross off the doors of the bedrooms in the house, preserving the privacy of his housemates to a degree. The other rooms aren't off limits and neither is the backyard, all of which are decorated festively for the occasion. Cobwebs litter corners and hallways, weaving through the banister rails complete with fake spiders nestled in them. The curtains are somber, as a variety of stick on decals are covering windows and mirrors alike. Decorations sit on mantles and door frames, with each window sill featuring a lit candle or something equally spooky.

The backyard is lit by dim orange lights, featuring seating and open night air for those who wish to get out of a hot, loud house and admire the stars. Just mind the witch legs and don't litter cigarette butts everywhere, alright?

The door's open and a variety of tunes are playing, audible from the street.]

The Party

[So you were invited (or not,) and you found your way to the right house. The lights are dimmed and the music's loud, so come in and get a drink from the fridge or the creative yet nerdy 'keg'. Peter's no Martha Stewart nor is Wanda really in a mood to make a lot of cute treats so you'll have to put up with standard party fair: potato chips, pretzels, a huge stack of pizzas and a few large bowls of candy corn. That shit is everywhere, there's no escaping it. You need ice? Just don't choke on the critters.

Rooms not cordoned off are yours to wander and get wasted in, same with the stretch of grass in the back yard. Wander with your goblets of definitely spiked punch and a handful of candy corn. Because if you're not eating it then you suck.

At some point there will be a cake pulled out because Peter's drowning in sisters and Lorna's birthday is this month. Clearly the thing to do is to (monster) mash it in to the Halloween celebrations with a creepy cake. Say a spooky happy birthday to the girl with green hair when you get the chance.]

Comments

[shadowglitter]

[ odin's had a pretty fun night, he thinks. the people here are all kind and warm and loving, or at least that's how they seem to him in his post-party haze and the fact that there are no zombies eating people or warlords decapitating anyone like there would be back home. he's calm in the afterglow of everything, just relaxing and embracing the feel of the earth when kaneki peeks down at him, and odin smiles up. woah, this girl's pretty. ]

Woah, this girl's pretty.

[ wait, wait, he said that out loud. ugh, alcohol and odin do not mix well. he shakes his head clear and sits up, then decides he's not ready to sit up, so he flops back down, inching back a little so he gets a better view of kaneki. so pretty. ]

I'm alright. Are you alright? How are you? Besides pretty. Ugh, why is everyone so much prettier than me? Wait, that's bad hit-on talk. Not that I'm hitting on you. If I were, I'd be calling you pretty, but I'm not, so. Checkmate.

[dualismum]

[ he totally said that out loud. In fact, loud enough for kaneki's smile to widen because it means Odin didn't realize it was no girl, but actually a man in a drag. In a way it's flattering, and he is sort of proud of himself too - after all, Kaneki is damn good at this disguise thing.

And damn good at make up and dressing up too, it seems. ]

Of course you aren't. [ hitting on him. "Her". ] I'm well. Just a bit tired, but not too much. [ And kaneki moves to sit down near Odin. he won't lay back though ]

Did you enjoy the party?

[dazain]

[Though it isn't as hard to startle him as he might like to pretend, it really is a rare case to feel disarmed. But that is the feeling provoked this casually shared knowledge; things he would neither say nor disagree with, made public knowledge by a man that shares his name who he will never be.

The hands holding Sasako's tighten briefly, before releasing her completely. He retrieves his drink from the seat next to him.

He still smiles, though not so bright, now, and for the first time, a bit forced.]

Not at all.

[He spreads his fingers, makes a soothing gesture at her concern with one hand, pours the rest of his punch down his throat with the other.]

This Dazai-sensei is quite lucky to have such an attentive reader of his works. I'm just a little jealous, to be beaten to such a favorable impression by a man who stole my name before I reached this world.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki watches him. The bandages make it hard to read, but the tension is there, how heavy the air feels. Maybe he IS Dazai, maybe he is not; but people share names all the time. It's not THAT unusual, so to feel so tense from it is...

well, kaneki smiles anyway, and nods after ]

Don't worry, Dazai-san. You'd be competing with someone who is gone; Dazai Osamu sensei died in 1948.

You still have plenty of chances to make an impression.

[shadowglitter]

[ odin sits up a second time, deciding that even if he'd rather stay sprawled out on the grass reflecting on his night, he doesn't want to be rude to the pretty girl he's totally gonna hit on. he stifles a yawn against the back of his hand and nods, ]

It's been a lot of fun. I don't really get to hang out with people in a group setting like this all too often... I mean, I was in the army back home, but a bunch of soldiers stuffing their mouths with bear meat and swapping stories about the blood they've spilled on the battlefield is a little different to getting drunk and making friends, you know?

[ wait, shit. inappropriate party talk. he cracks a shaky little grin. ]

I mean - yeah. I enjoyed the party. Tired too, but y'know. How about you? Had fun so far?

[dazain]

Then he's beating me in that arena, too.

[He doesn't even try to keep the petty irritation of his voice out at that fact. Dare he ask how? No, there was no good answer, just degrees of bad ones.

Now that his glass is empty he spins it over his hands, stem twirling between his fingers like preparing for a magic trick, or maybe he's just a fidgeter out of habit. He pulls one finger of his other hand up to his lips and winks.]

But I appreciate Sasako-san not counting me out just yet. Enough about someone who isn't either of us, have you been stuck here long?

[dualismum]

[ odin sure likes to talk. Kaneki doesn't mind, he can't help but to smile wide at that and nod and smile after ] It was fun. Seeing people dressing up, what they came up with.

Nice costume, by the way. [ if only a bit naked, which is embarassing, but hey. If Odin isn't embarrassed, does it matter? it's good to pretend to be someone else - and drink and making friends. That's what parties are about ]

How was the soldier life, back home?

[ghoulking]

[ now, now, it's not a competition. But Dazai would probably not like to know the author committed successful suicide.

Kaneki nods softly, accepting to change the conversation ] I have. three years and a month. Time goes a lot faster than it sounds, I assure you.

[dazain]

[This time Dazai doesn't mind letting the way that answer causes him to blanch to leak through, and he momentary drops his glass but just as absently flips it back up reclaims it before it can hit the ground.]

Your relationship with time and mine don't quite line up, I think. Three years?

[He tilts his head and pulls at one of his messy tufts of hair.]

Is that common?

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki laughs lightly and shakes his head again ] it's not, no. But there is always something happening here.

it has been quiet of late, but- [ "quiet". There is a murderer going around in Maurtia Falls, so it's not THAT quiet, but - ] A lot always happens and we get pulled into all of it.

[ so time goes by fast ]

[dazain]

[Being 'pulled into it all' sounds like the opposite of anything he wants. He's still cranky at the American government about all of this. He sighs.]

You make it sound quite satisfying...?

[ghoulking]

Satisfying? No- it's not. People are in danger, after all. [ kaneki's people are in danger. and that's a big thing for him.

Kaneki shakes his head softly ] This isn't a very good topic to talk about at a party, is it? [ that's why he is pretending to be "Sasako". So he doesn't have to think about these things ]

[dazain]

[Well, it wasn't bothering him, but he is not one to deny a request for a change in topic, especially not after running away from the last one himself. He tosses his empty glass over to his other hand, lightly taps Sasako's knee with the edge of it.]

Of course, parties are for forgetting cares, not defining them.

[His smile has returned effortlessly.]

Instead, if I could make a confession? I actually had a selfish reason for approaching you tonight.

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki's eyes follow the glass for a moment, before he looks up at Dazai again with a tiny smile ]

Oh? And what would that be?

[dazain]

[Dazai sets the glass down and reaches out to claim the same hand Sasako had offered him earlier, though his touch is light and he won't force it if she refuses.]

Because,[and he sounds Sure again, the same bombastic confidence he'd had when he approached her] instantly upon seeing you I was sure that I could die happily strangled by such a elegant beauty. And then when you had such strong hands, I knew it must be destiny!

[shadowglitter]

Oh, you think? I just wanted attention, honestly. I'm glad I got it, but I wish I'd just worn, like, a onesie with a dog's face on the hood or something.

[ he nestles down in his cape. he's not embarrassed by what he's wearing, but tonight was an opportunity to just wear something relatively boring compared to everyone else, but as always, he had to try and steal the spotlight in his own dumb naked way. he's a selfish dude, he thinks, but he's too content with everything to beat himself up about that right now. ]

Soldier life was, you know - sad. Death-y. [ he shrugs. there are happier things to talk about than home. ] I like your costume, too, by the way! Uh, whatever it is. Wait, are you even wearing one? I mean, I like your clothes, but-- oh. Is this cosplay? Are you a character from a show or something? Sorry. I don't watch a lot of TV.

[dualismum]

You'd look very cute with that. [ kaneki winks, playfully. ] But don't worry, this is good too and I'm sure everyone thinks that. [ before odin starts beating himself up over it, it's better to tell him this.

At the question of what Kaneki is dressed as, the ghoul decides he won't breaking the fantasy just yet and his only response is a smile. Instead, he gets up and offers Odin his gloved hand ] How about last dance of the night?

jesse pinkman | ota!

[heisenbitch]

► (UN)FASHIONABLY LATE - OPEN

[ The invite had come from Magnus earlier that day: A quick message dropped to Jesse about a Halloween party at the home of some guy called Peter. Starts at 6pm and will likely go well into the night. Jesse said he'd think about it but had mentally already dismissed the idea of going. Getting festive about anything is the last thing on Jesse's mind in light of the past almost two months. Close to 10pm, however, with the party well underway, Jesse is walking up the elaborately Halloween decorated path leading to the big, elaborately Halloween decked-out house and…

Well. He hasn't exactly come dressed for the occasion. Just a skull t-shirt and dark jeans with a leather jacket, and he drops his finished cigarette to the ground to crush it under his shoe before pushing open the front door. Only thing accompanying him is a bottle of booze, wrapped in a brown paper bag and clutched in his hand. Among the sea of people dressed in wildly elaborate, outrageous, imaginative costumes, Jesse stands out like a sore thumb; he looks like a gatecrasher far more than a person who's actually been invited, or like he's arrived at the wrong party. His gaze is impassive as he surveys the scene. To an onlooker, Jesse, with his shaved head and his deadened eyes, may seem like a shady character looking for trouble. Or he may seem like an asshole who doesn't care conform, or perhaps someone clueless and indifferent to the traditions of Halloween. Or he may simply seem like a lost, lonely soul who, despite his shadiness, is in desperate need of some fun.

Fuck this, thinks Jesse, and he starts to turn around to leave when he's suddenly stopped by someone who's approached him. ]

► BEING DECORATED - OPEN

[ The only reason Jesse decides to stay is in case things get out of hand. There is a lot of booze at this party, and a number of teenagers in various states of drunkenness, ranging from a little tipsy to fairly tanked. Should any of them wind up in some kind of trouble or overdoing it with the booze as the night progresses, Jesse can at least save them - or anybody, for that matter - a trip to the hospital; he can heal them on the spot and make sure they're okay.

But as the party has worn on closer to midnight, a few partygoers, dismayed by Jesse's lack of festive dress, have taken it upon themselves to make him look more Halloween appropriate. One girl, insisting he needed to look more emo with the clothes he's wearing, had came at him with eyeliner, and so he is now looking uncharacteristically emo with guyliner around his eyes (ooc: thicker and sloppier than in the picture). Someone else came at him with fake blood and smeared it along his face. And eventually, somehow, he wound up with someone else's plastic novelty meat cleaver on his head.

And now, he's being cornered by someone else insisting on decorating him further. In the corner of the room, while music is thumping and people are dancing and laughing, Jesse, who is all guyliner'd up with fake blood on his face and a fake meat cleaver still affixed to his shaved head, rolls his eyes in exasperation while heaving a long-suffering sigh at the decorative additions being added to his appearance. ]

Is this really necessary, yo?

[ ooc: Feel free to have your character decorate Jesse however you like! ]

► BACKYARD, WAY AFTER MIDNIGHT - OPEN

[ The cheap plastic meat cleaver is gone - someone had snatched it off Jesse's head a bit earlier in the evening to try it on themselves, and wound up disappearing into the crowd - but the fake blood is still smeared down his face, and the guyliner is still rimmed around his eyes, albeit more smudged than it already was. He stands alone off to the side, distant from other partygoers laughing and talking loudly in the backyard, while the party inside is still going strong despite the crowd having thinned out a bit. He's smoking a cigarette, wishing to god that he was drunk and having fun like everybody else is. Not that Jesse hasn't had fun - in a strange, disconnected kind of way, he's actually wound up somewhat enjoying himself, despite how little escapism this party has had to offer. Little, that is, compared to the chicks he's been picking up in bars, and the reckless, self-destructive, nonstop partying he's been subjecting himself to over the past few weeks.

While he's taking another drag of his cigarette, one of four things happens (aka, choose your own adventure):

A. The music inside changes and suddenly there is a chorus of people drunkenly singing along to Guns N' Roses, which spreads outside to some people in the backyard. Some even get up and start dancing in that carefree, off-kilter way drunk people do. Jesse, despite himself, snorts quietly in amusement, completely disinclined to participate in any way but also unable to help feeling a tug of nostalgia for the way the song reminds him of home. But just as the opening riff is building up to the first verse, someone is suddenly approaching him and grabbing for his hand to drag him towards the small dancing crowd.

B. Similar situation to option A, except it's Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time. Slow dancing, oh shit.

C. Similar again to option A! Except it's Village People. Maybe your character even tries to force Jesse's arms to form the Y-M-C-A at the chorus.

D. One of the partygoers bursts out the backdoor from inside the house and goes lurching towards the grass to puke, right near Jesse. Perhaps even on Jesse, if you want to be extra cruel.

E. Feel free to wildcard a fifth option if you like! Ask Jesse for a smoke, or perhaps a fight breaks out, or your character is dragging Jesse into a dumb party game like Spin-The-Bottle or whatever, or your character has no idea what any of the above songs are, OR...! The options are endless, really. Feel free to PM me if you want to ask about anything specific! ]

[h2no]

Naw, I'm good.

[it'll probably just bruise, but whatever. he kind of deserved it for using crobat as a can opener. and wow at least he doesn't have a grandad bod.

crobat sniffs at magnus's hand, then licks all over it when it recognises him.]

I got a bad feelin' he stole it... just showed up one day with it.

[h2no]

Not entirely straight edge, bro. I still drink sometimes and smoke up with Blue.

[because of course archie smokes weed like he's still some kind of college freshman.]

What, by makin' your own fun? I'm gonna be up your ass all night, Max, and not in the fun way.

backyard, e

[h2no]

[it's cold enough, now, that your breath starts to fog in the air when you breathe and the wind stings on your eyes, just a little... and yet archie makes his way into the back garden still wearing only his glittery mermaid leggings. maybe he's cold, maybe he's not, but he doesn't comment on it, only swearing under his breath and scratching an itch on his bare chest.

he pours something out of a red solo cup - something that's slightly too thick to just be a drink - into the grass. the chemical smell that catches the wind suggests it's a bunch of different things mixed together, though god only knows what. it takes him a moment to spot jesse, when he does he inclines his head slightly in greeting.]

Yo, you got a spare smoke, bro?

[archie doens't usually smoke but... he's stressed, and maxie won't see him do it, so fuck it.]

2

[h2no]

Fuck, yes.

[archie rubs a hand over his face, tired already. he'd ditched the fake beard for his sexy poseidon costume about two minutes after arriving - having decided that his real beard was good enough. he still has his trident, though.]

I'll have two. This stuff's watered down piss anyway. No offense.

[quickfingers]

Yeah, none taken. Mostly 'cause you're right. [Peter chirps with a rogue sort of smile, pouring two solo cups in quick succession to hand over to Archie after filling his own. Peter's honestly proud of the collection of alcohol he procured for the event, but a few things he had to pay for and you know - he's not made of dolla dollas. Some things had to be affordable. Hence watered down piss.]

I'm liking the uh, mermanism. [He's surprised he didn't expect this from Archie somehow, but nonetheless the leggings are glittery and define those calves like whoa.]

It's very on brand. Kudos.

riptide / ota

[knaval]

a. robot mode

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T INVITE ME!

[that's a giant robot climbing into the garden, who then sits down - carefully, mercifully - on the grass with a pout.]

We had a space adventure! You didn't invite me! ...Is it because the space adventure was fake?

b. human mode

[dramatics over, riptide can be found around the party in human form - wearing a shark hoodie and nothing else, as he considers this flesh suit to be costume enough.

he can be found doing typical party things, including drinking out two bottles at once, dancing terribly to music (too buzzed to care) and playing games, though not understanding them much.]

Captain Jack Sparrow | ota

[bestpirate]

ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴄʀᴀsʜᴇʀ

[Once news about this little party reached his ears, the Captain decides to pay a visit. Jack manages to infiltrate the manor easily enough by sneaking through the front door with a not so clever disguise. He stole this mermaid costume from a local costume parlor and modified it just a little with a few stitches here and there. Jack knows how to sew thanks to his time out there upon the high seas. He often has to sew patches into his coat, trousers and boots at times. Being a pirate is a rough life and knowing how to sew makes things just a little easier.

Only the lord knows why Jack decided to be a mermaid but either way he looks halfway decent enough since he kept the billowy sleeved shirt on and his signature brown leather coat. His fancy white and red sash remains tied around his waist over the top part of the blue mermaid tail. He ripped off some of the green frills around there to make way for the sash. Everything was kept the same for the most part and he even wears the purple bandeau top over his shirt. Just be thankful those legs aren't hairy or else it would be a sad sight. This costume came with a bright red wig but Jack gave the wig to some unfortunate skeleton decoration prior to entering.

So with a bright orange starfish latched onto his tricorne hat and his hair slightly untangled after some harsh combing, Jack slinks around the house looking for something to steal. He gets sidetracked by the keg of beer and this wonderful dish that everyone calls "pizza" but Jack is still on the prowl.]

ᴀ ᴘɪʀᴀᴛᴇ's ʟɪғᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ

[Somewhere in between his thievery and looting, Jack has too many pints of beer and ends up singing this delightful shanty song he often sung during his many voyages along the sea. The thing is, Jack manages to convince a few others to start singing along with him. Half the party is joining this crazy pirate merman in song now. It's turning into a regular ol' musical in here.

There's laughter, dancing and of course singing. Jack is thankfully not a bad singer even if his voice is a little rough from all the alcholol.]

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. [Jack drunkenly sings once he hops onto the nearest table. The man looks like a complete fool but a happy one.] We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.

[He hops off the table and onto a counter, precauriously balancing himself like some fleetfooted feline. Still, he keeps singing.]

We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.

[Jack leans down and snatches someone's drink right out of their hands before signing with all his might.]

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho!

[He tosses the drink back with a hearty laugh. Captain Sparrow is absolutely trashed right now.]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀᴍᴀᴛʜ

[Once the party-goers start to disperse, Jack can be found stretched out upon the couch completely unconscious. He snores slightly as he nuzzles his cheek against the cushions of the sofa. The poor guy partyed way too hard on a near empty stomach. Of course he nibbled on the pizza earlier but Jack ended up leading a sing-along and then tried to get his groove on with little sucesss. He got slapped a few times for being too fresh and then ended up flailing around the house after hitting on some bloke's girlfriend.

That was fun. Probably explains why the patio out back has some holes in it and why there's broken vases. Jack is a walking tornado even on a good day, so imagine a bad one. That explains why Jack eventually laid down upon the couch and legit passed out.

Good luck walking him. Jack sleeps like a log.]