boo

[bu773rfly]

Who: All troublemakers and part-time ghouls [that means open]

Where: The movie room, then the Quad

When: The very night of Halloween!

What: Get SPOOKY, get SLEEPY, get STUPID, it's a sleepover costume party.

Content Warning: none for the post; byocw (bring your own content warnings)

[It starts a few nights before, with a network post.]

10.27.xx 19:28:16 un:hudie

20:00....Halloween night...the movie room...

You'd better be there. You'd better be in costume.

10.27.xx 19:29:43 un:akapassionista

I can't wait to see everyone's Halloween costumes!! ♪♪(o*゜∇゜)o～♪♪

[You'd better. Because it's a party!

Kaede and Erika have dressed the room up for the spookiest night of the year. It's nothing professional - lights dimmed, music playing, store-bought balloons with jack-o-lantern faces on them, paper cutouts in pumpkin and ghost shapes stuck to the wall. A "bat" is fluttering around, but if you squint, it's actually just Erika's familiar with black paper stuck to her wings. There's some kind of plastic tub in the corner full of water and...apples? Is it supposed to be bobbing for apples? All in all, it has some kind of DIY charm to it all.

Of course, everyone's actually here for the refreshments, and there's plenty of those. Some Bender specials, mostly the non-enchanted fare, but you might find a couple of the milder curses and blessings on the table. Bowls of popcorn and chips and every other genre of snack food you can scrounge up at Fantasy Costco. Candy galore. A modest assortment of Faerunian treats familiar from missions. Paper cups and plates and napkins. Soda bottles and a water pitcher and a few big bowls of punch. (One is labeled "alcoholic". Be ye ware.)

And by the way, costumes really are mandatory. There's a sign out front saying so. If you came unprepared, there's a bin of costume components outside to choose from, capes and headbands and masks and whatnot, but they might not coordinate well. If you think you're getting in without making an effort, Kaede and Erika (themselves dressed in bargain bin warlock and bard kit, respectively) are ready and waiting to chase you down and apply whatever degree of force or Sleep they need to correct the issue, with costume accessories and water-resistant face paint in hand.


About two hours into things, the two get everyone's attention and move the party outside to the Quad. Out there they've got a campfire going, picnic blankets spread out for sitting on, ingredients for s'mores laid out, and...pumpkins! And tools for carving or painting them. A sign out by the campfire announces a contest for the best decorated pumpkins, but nobody ever comes along to apply judging standards, so everyone's just free to show off their creation.

Things wind down a little after midnight. You can head on home...or just sleep out here, between blankets under the stars. It's that cozy kind of night.]

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael chuckles; boy, that's a lot of questions!]

I don't know if I'm the best person to ask. Most of the parties I've been to were demon ones, and those are pretty different.

My friend Tahani threw pretty much all of the human parties I've attended, but those were more like high-society galas. Black-tie, stand around and drink champagne, that kind of thing. They really aren't terrible, but I don't know if "fun" is the point.

[shootstyles]

Hmm. I suppose a demon might have a definition of a party.

[They're probably terrifying but not as terrifying as the second thing that Michael says. He trembles a little at the idea of fancy parties and looks a little sick.]

Those sound even worse than this kind of party! You have to go and talk about import things like the economy and sometimes even have to give a speech in front of everyone.

Hrk.

[eudaimonikos]

Oh, I've given those! It's not that bad, really, just a lot of platitudes. As long as you don't get too drunk or set the curtains on fire, it's not too bad.

[shootstyles]

I already did the first thing and I wasn't even trying to get drunk!

[He says like it's the most hopeless thing ever.]

[eudaimonikos]

Did you not know you were drinking nooze?

[shootstyles]

No.

I was just drinking the punch and everything started getting... I dunno, it was just easier to talk and be at the party. I thought maybe all my notes had paid off. Then I started feeling sick and weird and that's when I realized I'd been drinking.

[eudaimonikos]

Huh. Probably should've been labeled.

[Michael didn't set up the party, so he doesn't feel particularly bad for not seeing to that. It's a note for later, though.]

Well, you're not giving a speech. So it really doesn't matter as much. Everyone gets a little too drunk on their own time, at least occasionally.

[shootstyles]

Really?

[He sniffs.]

That makes me feel better. I guess I didn't super embarrass myself... except... when I talked to... every single girl I know.

[eudaimonikos]

I'm sure it wasn't that bad.

[well, he's not, but all the girls here are very forgiving]

[shootstyles]

I tried to seem cool.

[Grips Michael's arm feverishly. You know him. You know how bad it would be for him to try and be cool!]

[eudaimonikos]

[........Michael audibly snorts.]

Oh, man, what did you do?

[shootstyles]

I put my hand on their shoulders and I told them they were pretty.

...You know. [He drops his voice.] Like flirting.

[eudaimonikos]

......if I've learned anything recently, it's that I don't really know what flirting is.

[shootstyles]

...I don't really know either. I was just really overly confident when I talked to them like I wanted them to be impressed by me. And like I was someone who was popular at parties.

It's so embarrassing. Everyone knows I'm no good at that sort of thing!

[eudaimonikos]

Ha!

[okay LOOK, it's FUNNY]

Well, everyone around here is very forgiving. I'm sure it's fine.

[shootstyles]

Don't laugh! It's terrible!

[But it is funny.]

[eudaimonikos]

[Okay but that just makes him laugh more? He'll try to suppress it though.]

It's fine! Just don't bring it up with them, and then you can never speak of it again!

[shootstyles]

Of course I won't! But what if they bring it up? What would I say? I can't pretend it didn't happen... What if-

[He suddenly leans close. eyes locked on Michael's with the intensity only a drunk can muster.]

You won't tell anyone, will you?

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael leans in, equally serious.]

Your secrets are safe with me.

[shootstyles]

[He stares at Michael for a few seconds, as if trying to decide if he's being teased, before he nods with a small smile.] You're the best demon I've ever met.[He pats Michael's arm. Then the smile deflates into a grimace and he sort of just... drops down curls up with a groan.]

My head is killing me. Don't tell anyone that I'm going to just... take a nap here either.

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael smiles, a little crooked.] That's gotta be a low bar.

[But it's a nice thing to say anyway. Michael peers down at Deku for a moment. Should he try to get him back to his room? He's not that sure how well he could carry him, or where he lives...well. It's not like the moon is dangerous. It's not gonna rain.]

Okay. You're not cold, or anything?

[shootstyles]

I dunno. Some people aren't very nice. But you're really nice.

[Making a strangely good impressions for the demons, Michael. Izuku shakes his head at the question and then groans, rolling over and pressing his face into the ground as he yanks the hood of his All Might onesie over his head. He's still for a few seconds before he mumbles into the ground.]

...I have to get up, don't I?

[eudaimonikos]

I think it would probably be best.

[Michael wasn't sure if he'd force it, but he does figure this is a little less than ideal.]

The rooms aren't that far away. We can make it.

[shootstyles]

[THERE'S ANOTHER GROAN.

Despite having shattered every bone in both of his arms, this is somehow the hardest thing he's ever done.

Slowly, so slowly, but with furious determination, he pushes himself up onto his knees, puts one foot on the ground, and slowly stands up. He sways and stumbles but manages to keep upright.]

People really get drunk on purpose? I can barely even stand up...

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael reaches out to grip his arm, just to help make sure he keeps his balance.]

I think you probably overshot it a little. It really can be fun, if you just have a bit.