Everyone Let's Do a Monster Mash | OPEN TO ALL

[forgeabettertomorrow]

WHO: All imPorts Invited!
WHERE: Warehouse Converted into Spooky Mansion in Nonah!
WHEN: This Week, a few days before the Atropos Announcement
WHAT: Halloween Ball and Gala complete with haunted house!
WARNINGS: Spooky Horror Film Tropes? Scooby-Doo Like Antics? Supernaturally Good Times?
NOTES: To make sure all players aren't kept from participating in the Atropos Plot/Announcement, this log is being backdated a couple of days so everyone can still have fun and get their plot on.

With as crazy as October has been, Darin and Allura were right to believe that people needed a little something to unwind. Last year's Halloween festivities at Helix Station were certainly fun, but this year something bigger and more fun was brewing.

Having rented a huge warehouse adjacent to his Forge complex in Nonah, Darin and Allura went to work fixing the place up for a big Halloween ball, gala, and costume party! Anyone who's anyone received an invite, which means that everyone got an invite! And using Altean prototype hard light holographic technology (patent pending) this warehouse has been transformed into a gigantic, spooky manor! The fog hangs low, the moon is way too big for this longitude, and all sorts of sounds and eerie lights permeate the air. Come in formal ball dress, a spooky costume, or put no effort into a costume at all and try and pass it off as some sort of social commentary!

Inside, there's a huge dance floor lined by tables which is also framed by buffet tables brimming with food and treats. And thanks to the hard light hologram tech at work, your dance partner might be your date or a monster pretending to be your date! Doors open and close ominously, ghosts appear on the dance floor, and vampires skulk in the shadows! It's all good-natured spooky fun!

...Until midnight, that is.

At midnight, a bug in the hologram's programming deletes all of the exits and shutters all of the windows! And those seemingly harmless spooks and monsters become a tad more on the aggressive side. Secret passageways that lead to random rooms in the 'manor' start separating everyone. The new goal? Can you last 24 hours? Sure you can. It's not like anything is really gonna kill you.

But watch out for that grand piano down on the ballroom floor. It's got a bit of a mean streak.

Comments

OUTSIDE

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[The Hard light hologram tech is in full effect here. Leading up to the main doors of the 'manor' you have to make your way through a haunted cemetery! The grave stones all have imPort names on them and comical causes of death. Try to find yours! Just don't be scared if something is looming around your tombstone in the low hanging fog!]

OTA

[moonlitpath]

[Racer!Mizuki -though, are Racers supposed to have pokeballs on them?- is in her element as she wonders the haunted graveyard with a raichu-disguise mimikyu on her shoulder. It's hand-sewn and Pika is absolutely delighted.

Sure, it's not like home, where ghosts literally come out to play in cemeteries, but it's close enough to put a visible bounce in the Champion's step she stops to inspect every single tombstone. Some of them are names she knows, a lot of them aren't.

Her's gets a giggle.] Death by crayons and a USB? How's that even happen?

[Not that she gives much thought to it as she turns to you.] Have you found yours yet?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah, apparently someone thought it would be funny to list my cause of death as "Hot Blooded Spontaneous Combustion."

Apparently I'm going to get so pumped about something I'm just going to explode.

OTA

[monster_san]

[Halloween might not be much of an event in Japan of 1993, but Fuu is happy enough to pratake in this traditional American holiday. She's chosen to dress as an Onryou, in a trailing white yukata that covers her hands, chalk-white makeup with reddish circles beneath her eyes, and with hair damp and uncurled. She moves around on tiptoe as though she's floating, for dramatic effect. The cemetary makes a perfect setting for her costume.

And when she comes upon someone wandering about the gravestones, she swoops most menacingly and says--!]

You! Why don't you have a real job yet?

[or]

What is this? Are you still not married? You aren't getting any younger, you know.

[or]

Your lawn is a disgrace. What do the neighbors think?

[all delivered in a spectral hiss, glasses a-flashing.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Fuu's costume is so good that Darin doesn't actually recognize her.]

W-What?! Marriage?! But I'm only twenty five! I haven't even hit my prime yet!

[fauxmarth]

Oh-!!

[she'd been zoning out so much that those tiptoes got Fuu easily up behind her, and she whirls with a start, eyes big. she brings a hand to her mouth, her other instinctively on Falchion's hilt, but it stays safely sheathed. she knows where she's at.

after a weak little laugh.]

Well! I think my neighbors know it's done for in my regard! What sort of punishment does that accrue...?

OTA

[patchricide]

[Allura is standing in front of a statue in the middle of the cemetary, with a distinctly displeased look on her face.]

[See, this statue was supposed to be a special... well, someone called it an Easter Egg? She really doesn't see what eggs have to do with it, but anyway — this was a secret surprise. The base was designed to respond like a touchscreen and let people 'draw' on the base, like a giant whiteboard.]

[The only problem is... she sighs and remarks to herself:]

I really should have added something to record which imPorts wrote on this.

[Some of the drawings people have left are... not safe for parties, shall we say? These aren't even scary, they're just rude.]

[She grumbles to herself and prepares to remove the offensive art for literally the third time tonight, come on guys]

[spaceforged]

[A laugh comes from her left and Shiro joins her by the statue. He shakes his head. He'd only just arrived but he can guess what happened to put that look on her face. Shiro is dressed similar to knights at the renfaire with the exception of his coat of arms, a rearing lion with wings spread wide imposed over the Voltron V. ]

That's the same reason we put restrictions on notes cadets could put on their hallway announcement screens. Sorry, I'm a little late. It took more time putting this on than I planned for.

[salandidiot]

Yo, you got a problem with art lady?

[Tupp definitely was one of those imPorts who had both drawn and wrote not so nice things on this statue. While he hadn't brought any spray paint, he was surprised when he found this 'easter egg' and made full use of this canvas. He wasn't happy to find it removed though which brings him back to the scene of the crime again just to make sure his art stayed where it belonged. He's dressed as shitty as his art, glaring to Allura as he approaches so it's probably easy to put two and two together.]

[fauxmarth]

Ah...

[Lucina approaches from a side where that expression was noticeable first, the statue-situation second. she blinks, staring at the illustrations..."illustrations" is a word for it, yes?

she has an idea of who at least one of those obscene doodles is from...]

Well, it's...temporary, right? And all in good fun.

Ota

[spaceforged]

[He's a little late. Getting ready for the party took a little more time than he'd planned for. Shiro had gone with dressing as a medieval knight minus the helm and shield. A sword is buckled to the belt at his waist and his tabard proudly declares his allegiance. The coat of arms had taken some time to explain earlier in the month, but a rearing lion with wings spread wide imposed over the Voltron V was worth the trouble.

Instead of heading inside he couldn't help but go looking through the graveyard. Some of the tombstones get a laugh out of him. But his own....He stares at it and crosses his arms.]

Ouch, accidentally on the nose there.

[ The tombstone reads the following: "Takashi Shirogane, got lost one too many times".]

[lonered]

[Keith, arms crossed over his chest, is standing by Shiro's side and giving the tombstone a dirty look. He's in costume too, one that coordinates too well with Shiro's not to have been planned, though he's playing the part of prince rather than knight.]

Yeah a little bit.

[Very on the nose. Too on the nose.]

Doesn't matter anyway. I'll always find you. [And then words he's spoken before, but that Shiro hasn't heard.] As many times as it takes.

[monster_san]

[Fuu is taking a break from the "ghost of your aunt and/or grandmother questioning your life choices" act for a bit--drifting around on tiptoe gets a little tiring--and is having some fun herself now by reading the different headstones.

She doesn't recognize the young man looking at what is presumably his own, but it seems like he's not all that amused by it. Got lost one too many times?]

Do you frequently have navigational troubles, Sir Knight?

[h2no]

Right?

[archie has the same issue-- he gestures to his own gravestone. "archie: died the way he lived: stupidly."]

It's almost enough to bring a tear to me eye.

OTA

[lonered]

[Keith has been looking over the stones for familiar names because that's not a morbid tendency on his part. A few have made him chuckle, and he's just now found his.

'Here lies Keith. Mostly we're just surprised it didn't happen sooner.']

...guess I can't argue with that.

[He's in costume, shockingly, and not just a mask or a torn shirt and fake blood. Nope. He's in full costume as a fairy tale prince. He's mostly not self conscious about it.

Of course, it's Keith, so don't be surprised when in the next moment there's a knife in his hand and he's staring at whatever suddenly half appeared in the fog before remembering right. Halloween decorations. And if he does have actual company at the time.] ...sorry.

[fauxmarth]

Peace, friend...!

[the little blade only got a slight start and little chuckle out of Lucina, but she holds her hands up just to assure she means no harm.]

I don't think any of the generated creatures here would pose enough of a threat as to draw steel.

DANCE FLOOR AND BUFFET

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Accompanying the wide open dance floor are a number of tables where people can take a load off and eat to their heart's content. Don't worry, the food isn't a hologram, it's all real. All types of treats and pastries and caramel apples and other baked goods line the tables, all of which catered by one of Nonah's best bakeries! Make sure you eat your fill and take some home after!]

[...That is, when you're able to leave.]

DANCE FLOOR | OTA

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin's kept his costume completely under wraps for weeks now. Anyone who has asked about it, he's told something different. He's told people he was going to build on his Dullahan concept from last year and make it a full on mobile suit. He's told other's that he lost a bet and was going to go as Allura's Blue Lion...except the 'sexy' version. Still others he's told that he was going to go as some sort of vampire.]

[The truth is, no one knew what his costume was going to be. Not even Allura. Which is why people might be surprised to find him wearing something akin to an officer's uniform. It's got knee high, glossy black boots with neatly pressed pants. A white collared dress shirt, over which is a very properly tailored vest, and over that a military themed surcoat. On the left breast, the badge of Aegis Force. On the cape he wears draped about his shoulders, the crest of the Alvalean Kingdom, a beautiful tree with roots that intertwine into a deep network down the back of the cape. And on a patch on his shoulder, his own family's crest.]

[Believe it or not, Darin's wearing a slightly modified Alvalean Military uniform for this event.]

[Though, he's added a bit of Halloween flair. He's painted purple cheek marks similar to the ones he had when he'd had when he transformed, and even went so far as to don a set of jet black, obsidian like curved horns to match.]

[The man looks good.]

OTA (Keith + Shiro, you get two paladins for the price of one!)

[lonered]

[The first surprise to the folks who know him, perhaps, it that Keith has dressed up in costume for this party. He’s not usually one for costumes and the like, but well, Shiro had brought up matching, and Keith couldn’t turn that down. So here he is, dressed up like a fairy tale prince who escaped from the local renaissance faire, down to the circlet of a crown on his head.

Keith is currently examining a caramel apple like he’s not entirely sure how to approach it as he makes his way back to where he left Shiro by the tables. He has a second caramel apple in hand as well, and he offers it out to Shiro as he approaches. The second surprise, perhaps, is the way his face softens into an unabashed smile.]

Allura and Darin really went all out on this. It’s impressive.

They did. You see the gravestones and the statue outside?

[He takes the apple in hand and grins like he just saw a shooting star. Tonight has been pretty good. They can hang out with friends and people can see both black paladins do know how to do more than just work. He uses his other hand to idly adjust the tabard. Maybe next year he’ll do something ridiculous like be a werewolf.]

So, glad you came with me, in costume? [He pauses then his voice goes lower with a trace of respect to it like a knight truly speaking to their lord.] You should have a little fun more often, my liege.

[Keith is still trying to figure out where to start in on the apple as he’s nodding at the question.] Yeah, I am.

[And then Keith is too busy trying not to fluster. He reaches out to shove at Shiro’s shoulder, but then his hand drops to hook his fingers with the other man’s, even as he’s muttering quietly,] You’re too good at that. [He opens his mouth to say more when he notices someone else approaching and instead waves his apple in greeting.]

UPSTAIRS ROOMS

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Upstairs are all sorts of fun things to explore and examine. Paintings whose eyes follow you, studies with rotating bookshelves that dump you into other rooms, even trap doors that lead to a slide and dump you right onto the dance floor!]

[Feel free to explore, as all of the various hard light creatures, critters, and spooks are programmed to hover about and only playfully scare and tease you! If you get scared good, don't be surprised if one of the ghosts offers to send a picture of you being scared to your comm for a special commemoration of the event!]

OTA

[stlg13bomber]

[Carter comes in an old school devil costume - red hood with horns, wire-on pointy tail, red cape, that sort of thing. He's not the best at costumes but this seems like a pretty low-key thing event.

Besides, the holograms still fascinate him, and once he's loaded up at the buffet he goes exploring, poking and prodding in the dark corners to see what the spooks will do to him. It's nice, to have something fake-scary when you've been exploding actual zombies all week, and even when one surprises him Carter's left giggling at the antics of the hard light critters.]

AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[For those of you that want to party well into the night (hey, no one's judging, we all need to have fun, right?) at the stroke of midnight, something strange happens. The hard light holoform tech flickers ominously, and the music screeches to a stop, replaced by a deep, unsettling laughter. The doors you entered in are replaced with walls matching the rest of the house and the large windows that were streaming in moonlight all start slamming shut and shuddering themselves.]

[The 'owner' of the manor doesn't seem too pleased that people are having a ball on his property without his consent, and now he's going to be making sure everyone regrets it by spawning truly scary monsters, ghouls, and ghosts to torment those foolish enough to have remained! Don't worry though, you only have to make it until midnight the following night! That's nothing, right?]

OTA

[stlg13bomber]

[Carter, still in his red devil costume, assumes this is part of the schtick. The hard light monsters were strange enough before; more strangeness is surely just part of the illusion. He doesn't want to look like a bumpkin who doesn't know how modern technology works, so he laughs off the first appearance of anything truly dangerous. Boy, they're really going all in, aren't they? Nothing spooky here, but it's a nice try.

So who's gonna break it to him that this is real?]

OTA

[patchricide]

[Allura had been taking a pause from the party to play hostess — nothing that required working too hard, of course. It was just a matter of checking that things were running smoothly, people were having a good time, snacks on the tables were replenished. Simple stuff.]

[But the change in atmosphere is like a ringing alarm bell, as she charges across the ballroom towards a spot where she's certain there's an emergency control panel. And, when she finds it missing, starts feeling all over the wall trying to search for it.]

Everyone... please don't panic! [Said as if she's not already starting to panick herself, right in front of everyone's eyes.] It's just a bit of technical difficulties, that's all! I'm going to fix it. Or... try to fix it. I'll figure something out!

[As she says that, there's a massive figure approaching her from behind, descending slowly from the ceiling.]

guzma n darin n allura u can come too

[fauxmarth]

Okay--

[Lucina cracks the bedroom door open and reaches out for Guzma's arm, tugging him along inside. she shoots an exasperated glare down the hall as some shambling mummy-thing halts and seeks the sound of the door click, but before it can react, she yanks her man in and shuts the door with a huff.

she'd needed him to wait just a bit so she could change out of her dress into the tank and leggings she'd brought for just-in-case...and gods, she hates that her instincts were on-point tonight! at least she remembered gauntlets and bracers this time, too...

once back in the elaborate, baroque bedroom properly, she lets him go and folds up her gown and stuffs it into her duffel bag, frowning unhappily as it crumples in there. she really liked how it turned out...]

I suppose we can work on breaking through hallway barriers first...I could punch through a wall on the exterior, but since I don't know the actual make of the place, I fear that'd bring too many things down. It's risky and--

[she grimaces as she's cut off by some nonsense werewolf howling from upstairs.

after a beat:] And...I don't want anyone to get needlessly hurt.