(ooc: For and anyone else who'd like to join our shenanigans. Literate RP (I'm not able to do three paragraphs or anything most of the time, but please make an effort to make sense and write more than two sentences), HA based (so if your HA changes, your costume changes - which could be awkward mid-scene! Exception to this are hexes from trick or treating). Real life comes first, but if you vanish mid-scene for an extended period of time without warning, the person you're playing with can reserve the right to move on.

We're a fun group and most of us don't bite unless you want us to. RP Forum rules apply. Trying to follow the holiday plot a bit here; please try to stay together, timeline-wise. I thought it would be fun to explore a haunted house :))

Morostide was best celebrated in Shadowglen. From the treats - sweets and fun foods of all kinds, hunting through the pumpkin patch for pumpkins and surprises - to the tricks - in whose mind was poo a good flavor for candy? - it was the place to be for the holiday. It was also, of course, preferable to be in costume.

Crowds came and went at the gates to the pumpkin patch, murmuring their dissent that the gates remained closed. Beyond the gates, the Skelly Manor was dark and closed. Not that it was ever bright or open, but it was unusual that there wasn't even the familiar movement of someone living there behind its drawn curtains.

It was Ian Asmodeus who finally opened the gates, allowing the flood of people to rush on into the pumpkin patch. The majority of people avoided the manor house out of ingrained habit - Jaxon Skelly was not fond of trespassers. Ian himself, job apparently finished by just opening the gates, had hurried back to the house and shut the door firmly behind him.

Kai Ashworth waited near the gates, twisting one of the rings on his fingers. He did not know Jaxon Skelly very well. They had exchanged a few words in the past, on the occasion where Kai had returned Jaxon's missing Maliss (who had promptly dashed off again), but Kai would hardly call that being familiar. Regardless, there was a part of him that worried where the pumpkin patch's master could be.

It would not be against protocol to inquire after someone's health, Kai decided, but actually approaching the door to the mansion would have to wait. Kai's sister Kia and her boyfriend Lucas had gone off on their own and were going to meet him at the gates to the patch; it wouldn't do to run off and leave them wondering where Kai had gone. It wasn't as if waiting was truly a hardship, anyway; the gates to the pumpkin patch were an excellent vantage point for people watching.

Cinderrin hadn't thought much of the pumpkin patch not opening exactly on time. But when it came down to it the youth couldn't be bothered to keep track of the time at all. Much and more could be said about his ability to sleep entire days away. This day, or rather evening, unsurprisingly was no exception. After yawning a very toothy yawn and stretching out the kinks you get from sleeping on hay-bales, he shook the stray bits of straw from his person and decided he very much needed some coffee. Blessedly this time of year the substance was not hard to find. Once some of the life breathing liquid had been obtained Cinderrin stumbled blissfully from the coffee shop door and into the growing mob of people littering the streets of Shadowglen.

Passersby conversed about how the pumpkin patch had finally been opened, and Cin’s ears pricked to hear that it hadn’t been Jaxson who had finally unlocked the gates. Suddenly his stomach began to gurgle unpleasant sounds that elicited even more offended stares than usual. Glancing down at his coffee he momentarily considered setting it down but quickly dismissed the thought and decided instead to investigate the Mansion grounds himself. Thick purple tail bouncing nervously behind him.

and everyone else!

Kia cupped her hands around the cardboard cup of chai, letting it warm her hands as she waited for Lucas to get his drink and join her. This October was proving to be far more chilly than the last one, but that could very well be the costume that she chose to wear this year. Thankfully Lucas' outfit had a cloak that he could wrap around her.

She eyed the line up for the coffee shop and let out a sigh of relief as Lucas came and joined her. "I'm so glad that you don't work a million jobs any more."

,

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] "I know," Lucas said, tucking his prop lance under his arm in order to free up one hand to push up his glasses. "You've only mentioned it a few times," he teased. "I will admit, though, it's nice to only have to worry about one job along with school."

Lucas' costume was just some bits of costume armor buckled on over jeans and a t-shirt, but at least it came equipped with a warm cloak as well. The lance, however, made it a little difficult to juggle a hot cup of coffee and the desire to hold his girlfriend's hand at the same time. "It was nice of your dad and Archer to give me the time off - especially with that deal that came up at the last minute. I thought I was going to have to stay, too."

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] It was strange to be there alone; Kai hadn't actually spent much time alone for a while, so he wasn't used to flying solo anymore. He had wanted to stay in Centropolis with Archer, but somehow the other man had convinced him to go ahead and go anyway with Kia and Lucas. In theory, Archer would be joining them as soon as business was settled. Kai hoped it happened sooner rather than later - he didn't want to be Lucas' and Kia's third wheel for the entire holiday.

There was something familiar about the swishing purple tail attached to one of the many people who had passed through the pumpkin patch gates since Kai had taken up his post. Costumes, like masks, had a way of making it difficult to recognize people even when they seemed familiar. "Good evening," Kai said politely, erring on the side of caution but also taking the leap to see if they had possibly met before in another guise.

(ooc: Buffer post as was playing with the new "choose outfit" functionality and posts can't be deleted. Many, many apologies.)

Kia blushed faintly and smirked. "I know I've said it a lot but it makes me very happy not to have to worry about you working yourself to death. I might also be all for spending as much time together as we can," she pointed out and slipped a hand into the crook of his arm, that way Lucas could hold his drink and his lance.

((OOC: sorry for the double post, I was playing around with the choose outfit option and it won't let me delete posts. :[ ))

(( HOW DARE YOU! But for real, both your outfits are fab. ))

Crossing beneath the threshold of the massive wrought iron gate, Cin’s sleepy gaze lingered on the mansion beside the patch for a moment before his brain registered that someone had spoken to him. With a mild twitch Cin snapped back into reality. After taking a quick sip of coffee his painted expression seeming concerned, he finally focused on Kai and spoke to him as if no time had passed at all between their last encounter. “Hey man, nice ink.” Cinderrin was of course referring to Kai’s tattooed sleeves, but his articulation on the subject was subpar at best. One of the pointy ears protruding from the top of his head seemed to give a small flick.

After another awkward pause something else occurred to the youth, his eyes growing wider as the idea unfolded in his mind. “Sorry, long time no see. We met on the moon I think, and then again last year… I’m bad with time stuff.” Beneath the face paint he blushed. “Also names, I’m Cin.” Switching hands with his drink he stepped closer and offered Kai a warm, slightly fuzzy, purple hand to shake. Of course he wouldn’t at all be offended if the other man refused the gesture. Having been homeless for the better part of his life, Cin was quite accustomed to people not wanting to come into contact with him, he just didn’t have the energy to hold it against them anymore.

A fanged grin glinted in the shadows, just out of the way of the passersby. Their owner had been lurking around Shadowglen for a little while now, first in anticipation of the usual festivities, and later in order to help investigate the strange goings-on at the manor. But now she'd finally picked up on a familiar energy nearby, too. Well, a few, actually, but it didn't seem wise to interrupt the rest.

With the ease of a great many years of practice, the disguised Kyriel silently made her way toward the familiar signature, creeping up behind him. She folded her wings tightly against her back and made sure her hood was settled over her face before crossing the last few feet, coming to a calculated distance from Kai - as close as she thought she could get without being noticed too early. Settling her voice several tones lower than usual and layering it with just the tiniest hint of (fake) malice, she spoke. "Good evening, Kai. Enjoying yourself, are you?"

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] "It is pretty nice, I gotta say," Lucas admitted cheerfully. "Any word on if your mother is still having fits about you living down here?" It was fun just seeing Shadowglen all decorated for the season. They would meet up with Kai eventually, but Lucas was pretty sure Kai wouldn't begrudge them too much if they took the scenic route.

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] Kai smiled sheepishly and shook Cin's hand; a firm, proper handshake. "Kai Ashworth. I'm certain we have met, but admittedly I didn't recognize you, either. That is something this holiday prides itself on though, isn't it? Inspiring everyone to dress in ways as to be unrecognizable?" He was uncomfortable, something which directly correlated with the formality of his speech. "I appreciate your compliment on the costume I've chosen, however the tattoos are mesh fabric and not permanent acquisitions to my person." Upon closer look, it could be seen that the sleeves that looked like tattoos were anchored at Kai's wrists by some of the jewelry he wore there.

To be spoken to by someone out of direct sight was not too out of the ordinary; if Kyriel had been trying to make Kai jump, her hopes were unfortunately unfulfilled. The voice was unfamiliar, to be sure, but Kai would fully admit to having a faulty memory at times. He turned to face the newcomer, the smile that turned up just one corner of his mouth politely baffled and the expression not quite reaching his eyes.

"Good evening to you as well. My deepest apologies if we are acquainted and yet I do not recognize your good self. As I was just mentioning to Cin," Kai gestured to his furry companion by way of sketchy introduction. "Perhaps not recognizing even those with whom we are familiar is, in fact, a compliment when the very nature of the event is to disguise oneself. Though clearly you are aware of who I am, which does leave me at a distinct disadvantage."

The woman laughed, returning her voice to its normal timbre and allowing the good-natured tone to return to it. "It's fine," she assured him. "We're not really that well acquainted, unfortunately; I feel as though I know you more by proxy than anything else." Her smile turned a little sheepish, then. "Though I have learned to recognize your mental signature. I doubt I'd have recognized you if not for that, considering." Her gaze flickered briefly over him, resting for a moment or two longer on his hair. Even if she never had known him that well, it still managed to strike her as odd. Not bad, but odd.

Kyriel gave a half-shrug, and then her smile, with all its natural good humor, returned. "Sorry, I'm forgetting my manners, aren't I? I'm Kyriel. I've been around the Masquerade for the past few years," she said, all but the last sentence directed toward both of the individuals; that was mostly to Kai, which she hoped would explain her apparent familiarity with him. "Oh, and I hope you'll forgive me for that attempt at startling you. I just figured, it's part of the holiday, right?"

Kia took a deep breath, trying to keep the smile on her face. "Daily mail about how I am a disgrace to the family. Father just throws most of them away and tells me not to worry about her and that he's handling it," she said all in one breath, letting the rest of it out slowly. Kia winced slightly and glanced over at Lucas. "Though I still can't help but feel a least a little bad about it."

She gave him a smile and squeezed his arm. "So tell me about this big project going on at work. Father has been gone most nights because of it."

(ooc: goes into post edit to grab the links for the arrow images; ends up somehow counted as actually editing the post Clearly this new system is going to take some getting used to...)

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] "It's... complicated, from what I can tell." Lucas started to reach up as if to scruff his hand through his hair, but was thwarted by coffee. "I'm not really all that involved in it since I was going to be leaving. Had I stayed I may have gotten more of the information up front, but mostly I'm something of a secretary most of the time." He blushed, looking off across the street as if fascinated by the display of various types of candy.

"There's some kind of conflict going on with a similar company - I'm not sure if it's copyright or some other sort of infringement, but I believe there was a lawsuit threatened so the lawyers had to be brought in. Messy. But not really something I can do much to help with at this stage." Lucas had been enrolled, on full scholarship from Kia's father, in Centropolis' local University since the beginning of the term; but such a small amount of business schooling was not nearly enough knowledge or experience to go wading into a tense situation.

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] "I believe we have at least met in passing, though perhaps not extended conversation," Kai agreed, bowing politely to the lady. "I'm Kai Ashworth, though you already seem to know that. I apologize for my apparent lack of memory in matching names to faces." He smiled, the expression sheepish as he reached up to adjust the plumed hat that shadowed his face.

With his signature dreadlocks gone and the resulting short cut starting to grow out into something distinctly shaggy, it was true that Kai's physical appearance had changed greatly in less than a year's time. Adding that his costume, with what passed for a shirt open nearly to his navel, was something he would never even dream of wearing to an event like the Masquerade - or even, truthfully, at all outside of a holiday such as Morostide - and the all-around difference was significant.

Kia nodded listening to Lucas, honestly focusing on the problems of the company and talking about work was preferred to talking about the relationship status between her and her mother.

"Well I'm glad that you could get away from it, but sorry that Archer has to stay and deal with it. I know Kai is feeling strange being without him here." Kia glanced over at Lucas and gave his arm a squeeze.

"You feel bad that you aren't back there trying to help them, don't you?" She asked and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

[img align=right]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/darkright.png[/img] "Yeah," Lucas said, nuzzling Kia's hair affectionately. "It feels like I shouldn't be out here not doing anything when it's such a source of stress for everyone else. Maybe I am a workaholic - but really I just want to be able to pull my share of the weight instead of making everyone else take it on." He knew better than to press beyond just asking about Kia's mother. Not only did Lucas have little affection for the woman, but he knew just thinking about her was difficult for Kia. Maybe one day Mrs. Ashworth would come to accept her daughter for who she was - and maybe one day pigs would fly.

Cin gladly shook Kai’s hand and decided not to include the part about how Kai had a specific smell, not appearance that had triggered his memory. Come to think of it… “Didn’t you used to have long hair? Too bad about the tattoos, but hey if you ever want some real work done I know a guy.” His grin spread practically ear to ear before he noticed a very odd scent drifting in over Kai’s shoulder. Orange orbs flicked to the hooded party standing not far from them.

~

Man did Kai really know how to use big fancy words. Cinder squinted as if the effort would make it easier to listen in. From what he could determine, Kyriel had also met Kai previously on the moon. Cin had only ever been to one masquerade in his lifetime and he was fairly confident that he hadn’t caught the scent of the newcomer before. Still, his mind was a wanderer and with the ever looming desire to explore the mansion and seek out Jaxon, Cin had a terribly difficult time paying attention to the present conversation.

Tail flicking he went for a sip of coffee and realized that it was empty. Scrunching his nose disappointedly he crossed to one of the very conveniently placed trash receptacles, this one shaped like a jack-o-lantern, and tossed away his cup. Turning back towards the two by the gate he wondered if he shouldn’t ask them to join him, many eyes making it easier to search or something like that.

"It's fine, really," Kyriel assured him. "Besides, as you said, we've never really had an extended conversation. Couple that with the fact that I think the only time you'd have seen me without a mask on is the wedding, and that I've actually changed my eye color and a few other things for the holiday..." She shrugged. "I wouldn't expect too many people to recognize me like this." A faint golden color rose to her otherwise azure face - her rather unique version of a blush. "Sorry, I'm not talking too much, am I? Rumor has it I tend to do that." She'd have split her attention more between Kai and Cin if the latter hadn't seemed so distracted; as it was, she didn't really recognize him, either, and she was frankly rather nervous around all the people. It was proving more distracting than she'd expected, but at least she could be fairly certain the other fellow wouldn't mind too terribly. Well, she hoped he wouldn't, anyway.

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] "My hair is a more recent development," Kai said, running one hand down the sleeve on his opposite arm. The idea of getting real tattoos, especially ones as large and obvious as the fake ones he wore, was enough to make him shiver. Such things were far removed from his normal aesthetic. "I'm surprised people still recognize me at all. There are many who identified me through the dreadlocks, especially during the Masquerade when identities are obscured."

Kai hadn't attended the Morostide festivities in Shadowglen very often; his previous job had made it difficult to get away for some holidays, depending on scheduling. His new job was significantly more flexible, and it also didn't keep him constantly traveling back and forth between Atebus and Subeta.

"Your enthusiasm is charming," Kai assured Kyriel, offering her a smile. "My sister and her boyfriend should be joining me shortly; we were going to investigate the pumpkin patch since it is now open for public perusal." He noticed how Cin's gaze kept drifting back to the mansion that overlooked the grounds beyond the gate, and followed the sight line to study the house himself.

"Perhaps we ought to introduce ourselves to the Lord of the manor and thank him for his generous permission to roam his land each year," Kai said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. Short hair and clean-shaven; it still took even Kai by surprise at times.

Realizing he had been zoning out Cin flinched. Kai had said something hilarious about a ‘lord’ and a ‘manor’ causing him to grin slightly. “I got this feeling, like Jax is sick or something.” His brow creased the concern obvious in his voice. “Heard he wasn’t the one who unlocked the gates… The guy is a control freak why wouldn’t he be the one letting people in?” Cin’s question had been rhetorical and the control freak bit wasn’t stated with any malice, simply as a fact.

Sure Jaxon may be an ornery type person, coming off as generally unfriendly, but Cin had a way with moody people and gravitated toward them. It didn’t take long after Cin set up camp in Shadowglen for him to become a tolerable fixture in Jaxon’s life. At least Cin liked to think so. After all the guy had given him most of the clothes he was wearing now. Hand-me-downs that Jaxon had portrayed as burdensome, Cin accepted gratefully. Maybe if he hadn’t been so forgetful of the time he would have noticed Jaxon’s absence sooner. A guilty weight started to thump inside Cin’s chest, maybe it was just heartburn.

"Or something," Kyriel agreed absently, following Cin's comment about Jaxon being sick, or something. "I doubt we'll be able to introduce ourselves in person for a little while, yet." Truth be told, she knew exactly what was going on already. Well, maybe not exactly, but she could pick up a few things with a quick mental scan; namely, that Jaxon wasn't really present at all. Not how he should be, anyway. But she figured it would be best to allow the Asmodeus fellow who was there to explain it himself. Presumably he would be able to do so in a more thorough manner than she would.

Remembering something Kai had mentioned, the angel cast her thoughts a little farther afield, picking up two other familiar energies some distance away. The brief mental image she obtained from that caused her to laugh quietly. "Your sister has interesting taste," she said, glancing at Kai and grinning. "Literally and figuratively," she added after a moment's thought. She'd never been too fond of most hot teas, and certainly not of coffee. Ah, well. To each her own.

[img align=left]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/kibu_subeta/violetleft.png[/img] In Kai's experience, 'interesting' was an unsubtle substitution that people usually used when they didn't like something but were trying to be vaguely polite about it. It was a sly word in the wrong context. He frowned, offended by what was in his perception a pretty massive insult to both his sister and his good friend. Kai managed keep his tone civil, being generally good at holding his temper well below the surface. "Then I suppose it is to your benefit that everyone is welcome to their own separate interests, is it not?" While civil, there was still a clipped edge to his words that he wasn't able to quite get rid of. He was good, but he wasn't that good.

"It was a different gentleman that unlocked the gates," Kai agreed, quickly changing the subject to follow Cin's lead. "A young fellow with particularly vibrant hair. Do you suppose that perhaps the master of the house has taken ill and his associate is merely assisting him?" He paused before adding, "Were you, by chance, intending to investigate?"