driftfleet | Halloween Mingle!

Entry tags:

Halloween Mingle!

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Mingle Post for the Halloween and Drift period!
When: 10/28-11/11

It's time for a spooky candy-filled drift, Flooters! And because no Halloween is complete without a few tricks...a mini player plot! If you'd rather just have a normal mingle, feel free to ignore it and tag about as normal!

===
On the Iskaulit for interested parties there are a few bowls of candy gathered from all the ships. It's a random assortment! The bowls are left in high traffic areas and they can be moved about, so feel free to say your character ran into the bowl wherever you like! Even in the bathroom? Who knows! Fancy hotels do it, so why not the Fleet.

Upon consuming candy taken from the bowl however, the character will have their hair or skin temporarily change color to something not their natural shade. This is a harmless illusion spell and can last anywhere from 1 to 8 hours - player's choice! What colors? Also player's choice! Want to go mauve for the day? Sure! Blue and green? Go for it! Rainbow glitter? Why not?

This is a completely harmless spell though, so while it looks like they've changed colors, it is not a real physical change. After a few hours, the effects wear off and everything is back to normal. Happy Halloween♥

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She catches it neatly, expression unchanging.]

One night is the same as any other.

[But she'll unwrap it. Slowly. Deliberately slowly.]

[Taako is an elf and he's patient. He's been willing to play the long con before and when the potential reward is so high? He's willing to wait for hours if it takes that long.

He just watches her unwrap it like it's some sort of bomb, then shrugs and goes rooting around in the candy bowl for something he actually likes.]

Not every night you get a bunch of fancy costumes dropped at your door - unless it is for you? And then you've been holding out on us, Party Animal.

[In the most deadpan voice possible.]

Oh, no. You have found me out. Whatever shall I do now.

[Once it's unwrapped, she takes a look at it. She doesn't care--much, really, but it's different.]

Nothing because I'll just spread the rumor for you. Consider it my ...whatever-this-holiday-is gift to you.

[And he will, Haggar. He will tell everyone.

He find another piece of chocolate and let the bowl levitate free from his hands as he starts unwrapping his with a little more speed and gusto.]

Taako is a benevolent elf after all.

[Now he'll just give the sponsors ideas. It is not as if others hadn't said worse about her.]

How lucky we are that you are not otherwise.

[Also deliberate, as she purposefully takes a taste of the candy as if to make a point, and streaks of lavender and lilac pastels slowly begin to appear in her white hair.]

[Aw, he was hoping for something that was garishly clashing. Still, if this is what RNGesus has provided, he'll take it. He manages to keep the excitement off his face as her hair starts to change, and instead inspects his candy.]

Extremely lucky. I could wreak havoc here if I wasn't so lazy.

[It's like someone hit saturation on her natural hair color, who knew.]

What sort of havoc would you wreak if you were more industrious?

Dunno.

[He helped Lup explode an entire inventory of umbrellas. He's stolen enough shit to keep him in spell components past the next planet. He rode a dragon into the arenas. He's done a lot of shit already here. But he's not really done any big pranks. He's too wary of his position here yet.]

Depends on what strikes my mood at the time. Planning it out ahead of time takes all the fun out of it.

An example of what you have already accomplished would have sufficed.

[But she gets it, it's not as if she isn't cagey herself. For good reason. She finishes the chocolate. Jury's still out on what she actually thought about it, though.

She does catch sight of her hair as the change progresses, but purposefully does not say anything. Though their conversation does bring Kova out, again, and he stares.]

Oh, I'm sure you'll have noticed the fun stuff by now.

[She's not reacting, but she never reacts so he isn't that surprised. What's going to be more fun is everyone else's reactions to her. Not only is she in a costume, but now her hair is a pastel rainbow of purple.

He grins at her, his work here done and then kneels down - carefully since he's wearing a very high slit skirt - with his hand out to Kova.]

Kova! My man! How're you, kitty cat?

I have noticed quite a few things.

[Even her hair, as much as she does not react.

Kova on the other hand, is happy to approach. He has been so much more relaxed lately, the ship is quite fun for him. Although with all the talk of 'treats', frankly, he's a little jealous. Why are there so many treats and none for him? A slightly affronted kitty in spite of his good mood.

He makes a sound and tries to get Haggar's attention, but that fails as ever--but Taako is there to be attentive, so he moves toward his hand instead. Hello. Mrroow. Treats please.]

[As he thought - Stoneface wouldn't let a single thing slip if her head caught on fire. At least she's aware of her hair and either pleased or annoyed at it. Probably indifferent though considering her personality.

When Kova comes over, Taako realizes something very important: cats and chocolate do not mix. Hm.

Well, that's easy enough to fix. He rubs his fingers together on the opposite hand to try and distract the cat for a moment. Then his free hand traces out an old memorized pattern and conjures a small morsel of fish. It's small and won't exactly be super nutritious, but it's a treat?

He offers it to Kova.]

You know you really should give him a little more attention. Cats are like kids - they might be annoying, but it's only 'cause they like you.

[A treat's a treat, so Kova is pleased by it, sniffing at it before batting it down so he can eat. Since when do cats care about what's good for them so long as they can eat it?

Ironically enough, it's this 'scolding' that leads to the slight slip in her expression, though she recovers quickly.]

Reminding me of that fact will not change how things are.

[That is to say ... complicated.]

[He lets it fall from his hands and then stands up, using a quick Prestidigitation to take care of the fishy smell. No one wants to take candy from someone with fish hands. Gross.

But standing up lets him see that blip in Haggar's wall and the corner of his mouth tug up into a smirk. Ah? What was that?]

But nagging you is my favorite pastime, Clarice. What else am I to do when poor Kova is so obviously pining for a little love from his cat-mom?

He is capable of getting attention from everyone else aboard this ship. And then some.

[As was evident by how much the cat's personality had changed since he allowed himself to get more acquainted with those on board, and the occasional visitors.]

You need not concern yourself when it comes to me.

No.

[He holds up a single finger to stop her in her tracks on that one. The candy bowl is forgotten where it rests against his hip and he stares at her as harshly as he can manage.]

He's making due with everyone else. You can't just shunt responsibility for him off on the rest of us because it's convenient for you.

[He lets the edge to his voice linger for a moment before he drops his gaze to Kova again.]

He's your cat, Witchy McGee. I like him and he tolerates me, but I'm not his person.

[This time there's more of a reaction in her expression.

Her eyes flicker to Kova, who is now watching both of them intently at that spike of tension, before back over to Taako.]

... you do not understand our situation.

[Not that she ever explains anything, but it is not his business.]

Gee, I wonder why that is.

[He lets out a loud sigh and rolls his eyes, but whatever. He'll take care of Kova because he likes doing it, not to help her out. Haggar is weird and dangerous and could probably turn him inside out, but when it comes to smaller creatures being starved for attention and love? It's the one thing Taako can't abide. He knows what that was like and how it turned him into the (slightly) terrible person he is today.]

You're lucky he cares so much about you.

What he cares about is the person I -- was.

[Things she really did not want to slip out: that. Not that it hadn't been building, but she's still not used to those raw feelings hitting where it hurt unexpectedly.]

... But now that I am able to recognize him once more the best I can do is make sure his needs are met. Others ... are better able to attend him than I am.

[He deserves better than what she can offer, is what she's saying, but the animal is strangely loyal.]

[Aaaaand she was gonna burst in all "THE FUN TRAIN HAS ARRIVED" or something, but as she approaches the area she can hear sounds of an argument, so her approach is quieter as she pokes her head around the corner to see what's going on. They're fighting over... the cat? For Taako to get so passionate about another creature is pretty rare, but that's more with people than with other living creatures. Back when they were kids barely scraping by she'd rescued a mouse from a trap, one that became the closest thing they'd ever have to a pet for a few months, and it was because of Taako's reaction to their finding it that had prompted her to try. It's not like Magnus, exactly- there's a guy who loves animals regardless of situation. But Taako can't abide a helpless creature neglected or left in pain.

She purses her lips and scoots back out of sight, reluctant to step in just yet. This feels important.]

[The heck was that supposed to mean? Taako stared at Haggar for a second, brows knit together before he throws his hands up in the air.]

Alright sure, go ahead and be all "mysterious," Cryptkeeper. But if you went and zoned out on him for however long, the best you can do? Isn't to keep ignoring him.

If he actually didn't give a shit about you, he woulda peace'd out when Lup and I started feeding him like a king. But nope, we're just the can openers. Maybe you might wanna think about he wants, not just what he needs to survive.

[And replacements are no substitute for the real thing. Just like in cooking and just like in life. He'd replaced his family with travelers and allies, but that doesn't lessen all the complicated feelings he has over the fact that he never got to have a real family.]

[For that, she stares at him a long few moments.

... Because he wasn't wrong, but it was also difficult to admit, that those words had struck a cord they shouldn't have struck, because she had been unable to feel it for so long.

Her eyes flick from him to the cat, linger, before finding their way back. Funny, how the purple of her hair matches the pupils of her eyes.]

... It is not... that I do not think about it.

[She says finally, almost hesitantly. It's almost not even about the cat anymore.]

It was a long time to ... be zoned out, as you have said. I found it odd that he... was able to seek me here. That he may have even wanted to. At home he has already found someone else.

[So not completely heartless, just choosing to be that way. Great. Taako rolls his eyes.]

Are you surprised? If I had family, I'd rip the universe apart to get back to them.

[But he doesn't. His parents are dead. His grandfather gone. His aunt and his relatives had all just shunted him off on someone else until he couldn't take it anymore. He's always been alone and that's just the life he's grown accustomed to. Years on the road traveling, getting passed from troupe to troupe as he outlived his usefulness, moving from place to place... Taako could see the appeal of coming home for Kova. But he doesn't trust anyone not to abandon him again when it becomes inconvenient, even the people here. He's only worth something when he's useful to them and pushing too hard at one of the crew over his own stupid insecurities is likely going to make him less useful.

Taako sighs and tosses his hair over his shoulder, then looks down at Kova.]

Since you're apparently done forgetting him, of course he'd wanna come back. So start treating him like he deserves to be treated, huh? At least pet him once in awhile.

[......Ah.

From the hallway, there's the softest of noises, an intake of breath- only the most perceptive (or perhaps the cat) might notice it. That one hits harder than Lup likes to admit, and rather than standing at the door waiting for her moment, she just... rolls around so her back presses against the wall, and slides down to sit on the ground instead, hugging her knees to her chest.

Rip the universe apart, huh.]

[Her eyes widen, and narrow.

Because again: he wasn't wrong, not entirely: He didn't know how much she would fight for her family, that she would do the same thing, and he could not understand how complicated these circumstances were.

At the same time, how dare he speak to her that way? Not that she ever argued against anything he said, ridiculous or... as piercing as this was.

It was almost enough to nearly miss the oddity of what he had said -- when he had family, it wasn't like she could miss Lup's presence. Not that she hadn't gone around playing "twins" with a virtual stranger herself, but Katie was ... gone now. There was no longer any point in playing that ruse. And she had been the only one to know the truth.]

Perhaps... it is different, for an animal.

[It's none of his business, but this was about this cat, there. The cat who's now gone off to investigate down the hall because this is too tense a conversation and he needs a break, personally, and he's certainly heard something else down there.]

I wonder if it is possible, to remember what giving affection is like. Kova has not seemed to harbor anger toward me.

[Unlike her son, which she nearly adds but doesn't, in the odd way she cuts herself off.]

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