The Samhain Ball - Come as You Aren't

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

A woman strides through the Nexus, garbed in royal finery of a distinctly Elizabethan style. In the crook of her arm, she carries an ebony scepter shod and capped in silver. There may be something familiar about her confident bearing, her angular features, her mismatched eyes. When she pauses to speak, the cadence of her words might spark recognition--is this Schön?!

"People of the Nexus, friends, in the world from which I hail we stand on the cusp of a special day, a harvest-fest when the walls between worlds grow thin, when masks and costumes are worn to frighten away the wicked spirits--or to invite them in on more congenial terms. So on this day, I invite you, each and every one of you, to join me in a revel to bid farewell to Summer, and welcome with fire and song the coming dark! Join me, won't you?" Letting her gaze sweep the crowd, she raps the heel of her scepter once against something solid, vanishing in a flash and leaving a sparkling trail for the curious to follow.

A cool wind herds dry, crackling leaves through the gathering gloom. On the cusp between the parklands and the residential district, darkness and cloudy skies have been slowly coalescing for days around a stately house of Gothic style, ivy-encrusted and showing its age somewhat. A square tower stands vigil over the entryway, tall windows overlooking the flagstone drive looping around a fountain gone dry. The house’s angular wings stretch to either side, the windows dark save for occasional glints and gleams of colored lights bobbing within. A glow does creep over the line of the roof, however, and the faint throb of distant music hint at something happening behind the house. The door stands open, a silent invitation to every brave soul who passes by.

((Happy Halloween! Enjoy the festivities. All LOLs are optional. Threadhopping is encouraged. Backtagging is forever, so don’t worry about missing out: we’ll still be here when you get back from your more mundane ghosties and goblins.))

Playlist
Visualosity
The Entrance
The Ballroom
The Banquet
The Bonfire
The Corn Maze
Dark Corners
Costume Icon Requests
The Photo Booth

Comments

[sumarusfinest]

"Children take to dressing as various spooks and monsters, or their favorite fictional character and go door to door asking for candy. It's mostly a Western tradition, but. Costume parties are fairly common everywhere."

He's glad Hughes made it in alright.

[bestdadinamestris]

Suddenly, Hughes feels like he's been missing out on the most amazing thing ever his entire life, because can you imagine how adorable Elicia would be in a little costume every year? Don't worry Katsuya, if it looks like he's swooning right now, it's because he is.

"Costume parties are common in your world, too, then?" He's going to be stuck on this idea for a while now that he knows it's a thing.

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya does not know what he has started, and is thankfully at least two worlds away from Mustang's revenge when he gets sick of hearing about it. Also immune to fire, which is probably a blessing.

"Not unheard of. My country tends toward more Eastern traditions, but it is a common Western event even in my world."

[bestdadinamestris]

Come on, Roy wouldn't set him on--

...okay, yeah, it's definitely a good thing Katsuya is immune to fire. Not that it's going to stop the Flame Alchemist from trying, of course.

"What's the difference? There are different traditions based on the country a person is from in my world, but in the end, many things are very similar."

[sumarusfinest]

"It's usually just an excuse to hold a theme party in my country, much like the Western New Year's celebration. Furthermore things like Christmas, which are sacred western holidays, are seen as couples nights in Japan. Like Valentines day. But our new year is the most important holiday to us."

Katsuya adjusts his shades with a smile.

"So really, it's in how much importance one gives to specific holidays, mostly."

[bestdadinamestris]

So much of that explanation is lost on Hughes. Oh well. Now he has more things to look up in that free time of his that doesn't exist. He'll be full of knowledge next time they speak on the subject, though!

"And this one's all about candy and costumes, huh?" Hughes chuckles. "Well, if that's the case, I say it's time we take a look at some of the provided treats. No sense in letting them go to waste." He'll nod off in the direction of the banquet hall. "Care to join me?"

[sumarusfinest]

"Oh course. I made some treats special for the occasion as well." He'll dutifully follow the soldier off toward the banquet hall.