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

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki brings a hand to cover a shy smile with his fingers, actually amused. because he is, after all. Perhaps this person didn't notice he was a man after all, and in a way that is a bit flattering - it means Kaneki is really convincing after all. ]

Not everyone fits in a fancy costume like yours. [ he is being playful, because he isn't so sure that's even a costume ] The trench coat is a nice touch.

[dazain]

Ah? Thank you.

[He primly examines his coat as if just seeing it.]

I'm a mummy detective! But I'm sure you would wear it much better than me, miss...?

[And he lingers there, clearly hoping to get a name from a pretty girl.]

[ghoulking]

I guess I am pretty good at finding out stuff, but - I wouldn't know how to be a mummy. [ except he actually does now. A person who has been dead for ages - sure, he isn't physically dead but inside he is... you know. It doesn't matter anyway - tonight is a fun night, a night where Kaneki is not kaneki ]

You can call me Sasako. [ Kaneki offers the other a wink, and eventually his hand to shake. The hands are covered with gloves, so Dazai won't touch Kaneki's actual skin, which is not pretty or very human right now ] And you, mr. Mummy?

[dazain]

[The mummy takes her hand in both his own bandage covered ones. Each finger has been carefully wrapped up, so they have two layers of not accidentally triggering Dazai's ability between them. His smile is very winning, as much can be made out, in the dark and between loose bandages.]

You can call me Dazai. Dazai Osamu, Sasako-san.

[He tilts his head, then, toning down the flirtatiousness for a gentle curiosity.]

How are you enjoying the party? I hope I haven't imposed too much.

[ghoulking]

Oh- [ that's all Kaneki has time to say, when Dazai asks him if he likes the party ] No, not at all - I don't mind talking, but there is a time in any lady's day when her feet are killing her. [ a justification for her wallflowering. Maybe it's not that good, but kaneki is about to change the subject ]

You know, there was a Japanese author with the same name as yours. At least in my world and this one.

[dazain]

Ah...

[Dazai blinks, and his off guard surprise comes through quite clearly -- in the single wide eye, the frozen smile, the way the fluidity temporarily leaves his frame -- despite the bandages obscuring most of his features.]

Is there? What a coincidence.

[He doesn't doubt Sasako-san, really. It would be an incredibly stupid thing to lie about. But it fills him with some kind of unspeakable unease.

He automatically doesn't show that. And some teasing light returns to his smile.]

Would you believe I haven't heard of him? Are you a fan?

[ghoulking]

[ oh boy what have you started?

Kaneki hums with a nod. He pretends he didn't realize how stiff Dazai became, but regardless, it's not like he can't look it up ] I guess not every world has classics like him.

But yes, Dazai-san is one of my favorite authors. [ among many ] Sensei is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan and wrote amazing books like "The setting sun" and "No Longer human". [ the latter is specially important to Kaneki in ways he doesn't wish to get into. Not when he is "Sasako", at least. ]

His style is semi-autobiographical, and often focus on decline, decadency and the unintelligible, however his works show a kind of... kindness in them, often hidden. Usually towards a character or two, usually towards the world. it's hard to tell but it's there. [ “This I want to believe implicitly: Man was born for love and revolution.”


and kaneki is a huge nerd. he realizes he is rambling, and quickly recovers from that ] - I'm sorry! This is probably really boring!

[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.

[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?

[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!

[ghoulking]

[ kaneki blinks, watching Dazai reaching for his hand and---

are you trying to match your counter part after all, dazai?

The ghoul looks back at Dazai's hand and then veeeeeery slowly he pulls his own away, so slowly, so carefully. Because #yikes. ]

Ahh.... I'm not sure saying that I've big strong hands is a compliment...

[dazain]

Did I say big? No, of course not! [But Dazai withdraws his hand to press his own chest again, so it looks rather as if that was always his intention.] But you can't deny you have the strength to squeeze the life out of me, can you, Sasako-san?

[And he smiles, Too Brightly, and does not wait for her to answer that question.]

But! I understand, this a big commitment. If you need time to think it over, I suppose I understand.

[ghoulking]

Aha- [ as someone who is suicidal himself, he really would rather not be asked by someone else to kill them. Every person copes their own way, but this is - ]

I'd rather not kill anyone, sorry. I'm off the clock, after all.

[dazain]

[That's no surprise, it's more or less the usual response, after all. Some form of discomfort.

Dazai seems oblivious, and perks up at this information as if they are having a perfectly normal conversation.]

Off the clock? Could it be that you're a mercenary? Oh! Or an assassin?

[ghoulking]

... No. I'm a national terrorist. [ there, he figured it would be the perfect time to get it out there. if Dazai gets the reference, of course ]

[dazain]

Ah!

[The surprise isn't so much to learn that he's talking to that person, though he hadn't figured that much out, but that Sasako-san had volunteered the connection. He was really expecting less information to be volunteered in response to his behavior, not more.

It only takes him a brief pause to put the connection together, and respond in kind, though.]

So Sasako-san was Terrorist-san all along. Hmm. But doesn't that mean you're off the clock all the time?

Not that I want to be killed for that sort of reason anyway, it wouldn't fit my vision at all.

[ghoulking]

I am, which means I will never be the one you are looking for to be your Juliet. [ Romeo and Juliet who commit suicide. Kaneki figures that's what Dazai is looking for, and if not, kaneki would rather believe it is - he doesn't need weird fetishes being thrown at him ]

And what is your vision, after all?