Halloween!

[theguidebook]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
What: Costumes, parties, and evil pumpkins
Where: Idol Springs
When: Halloween (October 31)
Warnings: Beware of giant evil pumpkins.

During the day, the gift fairies are busy flitting about, delivering a box to each Outsider! In each box is a costume, presumably to be worn to the Halloween party advertised on posters in every world. Costumes aren't required...but why wouldn't you wear a costume to a Halloween party?

The party itself is fairly humble, as the natives have had to contend with errant pumpkin vines and mischievous ghosts all month. There's a table of actual food, many pumpkin or squash based recipes, and a table for desserts with all manner of pies and pastries, as well as overflowing bowls of candy. There are streamers and simple decorations, and some games such as bobbing for apples... A small hay maze has been set up to one side. A few musicians are playing music - square dance calls included. It's nothing fancy, but it's certainly intended to be a fun break from all the recent strangeness. They'll even be keeping the ghosts out for the duration of the evening!

Until midnight, that is. Then the party will have an unexpected guest...

Comments

[allthepuppets]

She still wasn't pulling away and he didn't get it. They hadn't had much time to interact before now... had he really left that kind of impression on her? Enough where flirting this openly was okay?

...ah, what the hell, he'd figure it out later.

Seito let his lips brush against hers, almost inviting, almost teasing... before he drifted down, letting his fangs brush against her neck before giving her a playful nip.

[wildcardpotential]

Well, no, they hadn't interacted much yet, but Minako has a very good feel for these things, and she can tell when someone wants to be closer to her. She can also tell when someone's interested, and she had been getting both of those vibes!

She probably wouldn't have gotten this forward this fast if he hadn't shown up during a party. Social gatherings were like mind altering drugs for her. She was high on lala-land and just the thought of any kind of intimacy was like a druggie being offered more. And hey, she's getting good reactions so her gamble is paying off.

She closes her eyes, expecting a full on kiss, but being perfectly amused at his choice to tease. How fun. The nip to her neck made her squeal and giggle though.

"Oh no, you got me. I shouldn't have let my guard down."

[allthepuppets]

Seito chuckled faintly against her neck, giving her a squeeze. Funny... it felt nice holding her; she was nice and warm, so full of life. He had not experienced that since... since he was five...

He had to pull away from her then, feeling a weird sensation in his chest. It... hurt, and he could not understand why. Still, he could hide his discomfort well enough, offering her a smirk.

"You're all mine now..."

[wildcardpotential]

Confusion writ onto her face for a moment when he pulled away, but he still seemed to be playing the game. She keeps her playful look but adds a little more scandal to it.

"Is that any way to treat a lady?" She could see something had changed on his face... in his eyes... but she couldn't be sure what it was. "I think rather... that you're mine!"

Hope you know how to dance, Seito, because that's what your energetic lady friend is setting you up for.

[allthepuppets]

Seito let out an almost comical noise as he was yanked out on the dance floor, his eyes widening a moment. Wait, what, dance?! He'd never had to dance before?!

Still, like with everything else, he was pretty good at faking it. At least he looked like he knew what he was doing... minus the whole moment where he stood there staring awkwardly at Minako.

[wildcardpotential]

She's giggling all the way there, and smiling as they get into position and begin. You don't really need to know how to dance to pick up the square dancing steps! Just listen to directions and watch everyone else! Thankfully there was room in a group for them to slide in.

Minako almost pouts when the steps call for them to swap partners, but she recovers quickly, going with the flow. It won't be long before they swap back.

[allthepuppets]

...what was he even doing.

He went through the motions, but this was weird, even for someone he was manipulating. Seito didn't go through this much trouble with Rise... but Minato had really pissed him off when he beat him into the ground like that. He had almost had him too...

He swung around the partners, picking up on the dancing as he went along. By the time he got back to Minako, one would swear he'd been square dancing all his life.

[wildcardpotential]

Minako greeted him with a teasing wink as they circled round their partners back to each other. "You're a fast learner."

Oh, yeah, she could tell he didn't know it at first. That whole deer-in-headlights face he had made when she dragged him over gave him away. Some of that excess energy she's been running on is finally letting it's steam off with the dancing and she looks almost sheepish after all the mischief from earlier. "Sorry if I've been a bit silly tonight."

[allthepuppets]

"I pay attention," Seito replied, something like a smile working it's way onto his face. It was pretty easy to smile around her, but it still never reached his eyes...

He grasped her hand, spinning her around with the dance. "It's all right. If people didn't pull me around every now and then, I wouldn't do much."

...well, at least that was true.

oops

[onelastpromise]

Minato isn't dancing, himself - his wings are a little bit huge - but he's got a few native girls trying to get him to. He's content to drink cider, eat pie, and watch the dancers...

.........

That is not something he wanted to see. His apparent other self dancing with Seito of all people. It could be a random pairing made by the calls to switch partners, but he's got a familiar coil of dread in his stomach telling him otherwise.

He stiffens, and his party mood immediately dies. He won't interfere. He won't case a scene here and now. But the couple may feel like they're being watched several times through the night, and a blue-hued angel will constantly be somewhere in the background.

gasp

[wildcardpotential]

Minako smiles back. "It's a good trait to have," and she would know. There it was again... that sad smile. She shakes her head of it and tries to move on. It's not something to dwell on now. There's fun to have, sad eyes can be spoken of later.

As she spins, the loose gauze of her costume catches the light and looks like she's actually aflame. "I'm very content to be that person that gets you involved!"

As they turned back to the more simple steps she had a moment to feel like someone was watching her. She looked around and at one point met Minato's eyes. Not wanting to end her reverie she only flashed a big grin at him and kept going.

meh heh heh

[allthepuppets]

Seito let out a faint laugh, actually looking like he was enjoying himself. He was just using her, true, but it helped that she was pretty and had an... interesting personality. And that costume was doing some interesting things and...

...whoa, easy there, brain.

He glanced up as they went back to more simple steps, turning Minako around as he caught sight of Minato himself. His expression instantly turned dark, a wicked smirk twitching up onto his face, but it was gone as soon as Minako was turned around again. He was back to the silent, somber boy in less than a few seconds.

scree

[wildcardpotential]

She's happy about the laugh, and laughs back, never losing a step. She notices there's a hint of something... intense in his eyes. Predatory? Hungry? Lust? but they turn away and when she's facing him again it's calmed. It's definitely piqued her interest though, so she stores the thought away for later.

Not long after, she's starting to lose steam. It's been a long day and she burned off her burst of energy quickly. At the end of that particular song she smiles a bit breathlessly "I think I'm done for now."

[allthepuppets]

He gave her another one of his smiles, wrapping an arm around her to help her keep standing up.

"C'mon, let's sit for awhile," he suggested softly. Seito glanced back only once, to make sure Minato was still watching as he led her off to the tables.

[wildcardpotential]

She leans gratefully into him, nestled into the arm. She doesn't really need the support, but she's definitely still drunk on social contact and the touch is nice. The smile gets noted again as well.

"Yeah that sounds good." And she plops contentedly into a chair by her bag, taking a deep breath and smiling at him. "Having fun?"

[allthepuppets]

He settled down next to her, hesitating a moment.

"...yeah, with you," he said softly, almost giving her a shy look, before busying himself with picking at his cape.

[wildcardpotential]

A-aww! That was especially sappy of him! Minako's surprise makes her blush more than she would normally, smiling a very pleased smile. "I'm glad I can be such a positive influence."

She watches him pick almost shyly at his cape for a moment, thinking. He was an interesting boy, with his smiles that didn't reach his eyes and his confidence up to a point, and his uncontrollable persona...

"Suddenly shy, Seito-kun?"

[allthepuppets]

Yes, that was him... the shy, perfectly normal boy with the uncontrollable Persona. That was just what he wanted her to think anyway.

"N-no, why?" Seito replied, finding a particular spot interesting at that moment.

[wildcardpotential]

Hey, it could happen!... Y'know, to people who aren't Seito.

She leans into his field of view obnoxiously. "Cause you won't look at me."

[allthepuppets]

Seito let out an almost comical awkward noise, jumping back into his chair at her sticking herself into his field of view.

"I-I..." he began, turning a healthy shade of red. "Well... you're... a nice person. I don't... get many people like you in my life. I'm afraid that..."

He trailed off, glancing away.

"...I'm afraid that I'll scare you away eventually..."

[wildcardpotential]

She didn't mean to make him startle... but the blush is very satisfying. Until she hears what he's saying. Her face is a serious frown, an uncommon look for her, and she reaches to touch his cheek and turn his face to her.

"Hey, I don't know who you used to know or anything, but you're here now and I promise you I don't scare easily."

So whatever it is you're hiding, and she can tell you're hiding something, she's determined to find it out and help you heal. It's what she does after all! It's her Thing, her schtick. Trust those big innocent eyes.

[allthepuppets]

He let her move his head back toward her, managing a faint smile at her words. Really, this was way too easy; were all Wild Cards this gullible at first?

"I just..." he began softly. "I don't want to hurt you by accident. You're too nice for that."

[wildcardpotential]

Wild Cards are pretty gullible all around, yeah. It's that whole faith-in-humanity and seeing the best in people thing.

She tilts her head to the side and shakes it a little, letting her hand fall. "Hey, I'm sure I've been through worse." (...) "What makes you so worried you'll hurt me?"

[allthepuppets]

"Um... my..." he began, absently tapping at his head.

[wildcardpotential]

"Oh," it was pretty obvious. Of course. "You know I'm willing to help you. Determined to, honestly. I'm sure there's a way."

She smiles and reaches for his hand. "And then you won't have to worry about hurting anyone ever again."