WEEK 4, MONDAY, HALLOWEEN PARTY \o/

[trettende]

[ That's right, cast members! It's Halloween! Some weird holiday Hans totally read up on that involves dressing up and eating sweets, apparently. As with his last party, Hans has slipped an invitation under your door, inviting you, yes you! To celebrate Halloween in the... third floor ballroom? Hell, Hans didn't plan for that, but if the set-up's there, he'll take it. The note doesn't quite say "It's what Hime would have wanted" but it does say "We should all stick together and try to make the best of our time with each other," so y'know. It's implied. Along with "Costumes mandatory! It's not Halloween without that."

Once you arrive at the party, what will you do? Will you enjoy some refreshments? The drinks are set out just like last time, along with some cake made by Astarte (not exactly Hime quality but a very sweet attempt,) perhaps take the chance to share some stories or show off your costume? Or maybe you'd like to check out what's going on at the tables? Looks like someone set up pumpkin carving stations Why, the possibilities are endless! ]

Comments

[tellthestory]

Yeah! I know the idea though.

[He picks up the knife and gingerly, carefully, traces a face on the other side of the pumpkin with the tip of the blade. It's just a traditional jack-o-lantern face.]

They probably don't do any of this where you're from, huh?

[solomonjihad]

Not really, no. Not with those I live with.

[A pause.]

Ah, Balladeer...can I ask a question?

[tellthestory]

[He's scrutinizing his traced image, as if deciding whether or not to cut.]

Yeah?

[solomonjihad]

...Who was the Nightman?

[tellthestory]

[Yeah, yeah, he's gonna cut it.]

The what?

[solomonjihad]

...the Nightman. I...this morning, there was a star on Gabriel's door. It said the Nightman and his title was...The Nightman.

[tellthestory]

[...okay, you've actually got his attention now.]

A new star? Did it look like the other ones?

[solomonjihad]

...Yeah.

[...Wait, he--]

Same with the title. I thought maybe it was under the...under Gabriel's...?

[Does he not--??]

[tellthestory]

Huh. I guess that makes sense. There's no reason for them to go slapping up new stars, we're not getting any more cast...

[He trails off thoughtfully, sinking his knife into the pumpkin.]

...well, they did used to be actual dressing rooms. Is there an opera with a Nightman in it?

[solomonjihad]

They were? You mean, like...real operas and not...?

[Huh-]

I...I don't know.

[tellthestory]

Or whatever else they might do in opera houses. There must have been, right? This place does look pretty old.

[solomonjihad]

[This is....]

Do...you know how long the people...doing our show have owned it? Or just that this place is old?

[tellthestory]

Just that, I guess. I never asked them much about the history of the place. But they seemed pretty at home here?

[solomonjihad]

...

Have you ever...seen them in person?

[tellthestory]

Of course!

[solomonjihad]

...What are they like? What do they look like? I mean...if we ever see them, we'd want to know how to tell, right? How to talk to them...

[...Is this...is she actually...learning things?]

[tellthestory]

Ohhhh, I'm not supposed to tell you guys anything about them. But don't worry - you'll know them if you see them.

[solomonjihad]

...I see. I'm sorry. I was just curious is all.

[But, this...does...sort of help!]

...

But. Do they like cake, at least? If you can tell me that.

[tellthestory]

Don't worry about it. There's no rule against you asking.

[That's sort of an odd question, though.]

You know, I don't know. But most people do!

[solomonjihad]

[She's been making lots of cake, who do you think made this cake, Billydeer? Actually-]

If you're all right with it...I can give you a piece of the cake to give to them? They're missing this party, after all.

[Granted they'd all dogpile the jerk if they did show up but]

[tellthestory]

...sure, yeah.

I wouldn't have thought you'd want to. But I guess I never thought you guys would be so nice to me either.

[solomonjihad]

...I figure...well, I don't know. Maybe it might help a little. Plus its really good cake.

[Help a little with...what, though? It does seem a bit spontaneous, but somehow Astarte feels like its...a nice thing to do. Maybe to counteract all the terrible that the management's managed to incite. Kill with kindness. Or...the like.

Its silly, but its something, she supposes.]

This isn't your fault. Why would we be angry with you?

[tellthestory]

[He shrugs.]

That's how my last cast was.

[solomonjihad]

Your last cast...

[That's right, they aren't his first. He'd been brought here and he doesn't even know what year it is, anymore, for him.]

They didn't realize you were trapped too? Maybe not in the same way, but...that's how I see it.

[tellthestory]

It wasn't about that. We just didn't get along.