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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Aug 12, 2015 13:03:14 GMT -5
The damage done by the curse placed on Dimensional Island was perhaps most evident in the streets of Void City. Everywhere you turned, there was someone or something affected by the dark magic in one way or another. Children in Halloween costumes transformed into hideous beasts. Heroes and villains consumed by the very powers they wielded. Even those who showed no immediate effects faced gruesome fates when confronted by the terrors that surrounded them. Streets rampant with corruption and decay, fire and brimstone, a seemingly eternal darkness. Monsters lurking around every corner, the dead rising from the grave. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.
Jack loved it. Darn it, did he love it all.
"Oh... Such a grim sight to behold.
A living nightmare, horrors of old.
An adrenaline rush to send chills down your spine.
A night of thrills lies ahead, and we're next in line."
He strolled down the street with Beth at his side, sunglasses tucked in the pocket of the jacket he currently wore. From his upbeat grin to the fancy manner in which he strutted, light on his toes and walking stick clacking against the pavement, Jack might as well have been on a leisurely afternoon stroll rather than a walk through a dank, monster-infested city.
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Post by DMis on Aug 12, 2015 13:29:52 GMT -5
A haunting viola tune floated in the air. The player gave a fanged grin as they watched the new pair waltz in.
"And it seems my alternate is here as well. He's enjoying himself even as this life has gone to hell~" Beth replied as she watched the sights. Her current demeanor read the whole situation as casually normal despite everything and chaos going on around them.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Aug 12, 2015 13:51:40 GMT -5
Every once in a while, Jack peered through the windows of the stores they passed -all of which were abandoned and many left in disarray- scrutinizing the items inside before moving on. His search might have been unsuccessful thus far, but the goings on in the streets still piqued his interest.
"These children, they now understand, it seems,
What it's like to be the monsters in their dreams.
The power, the freedom. It's exhilarating.
There are no limitations. We can do anything!"
In his walk, though it was unseen, there was a very tangible aura trailing behind Jack. It was strangely soothing, but at the same time it got the blood pumping. As he and Beth passed the strange beasts that lined the streets, every one of them ceased what they were doing and started following them, as if purely out of curiosity.
"It would be a shame if I didn't play along.
Even I can't resist a classic song."
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Post by DMis on Aug 12, 2015 14:02:55 GMT -5
"It would seem so, Jack. This month is one that they might not get back," she offered with a smile as the viola player drew close. She gave a light giggle. "Jack the one on or trail is nothing but a pale male by the name of Todd. He's a bit quirky and odd," she offered softly to her new acquaintance.
The vampiric viola player sighed. "Nothing gets past you does it, Elizabeth?" he offered with a slight accent. "Though I must ask who is your friend?"
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Aug 12, 2015 14:25:34 GMT -5
As the crowd formed below, two hyperactive figures bounded from rooftop to rooftop, cackling like witches on speed. Cat, clad in the Armor of Pandemonium, repeatedly slammed down on the buildings hard enough to create moderate bursts of Pandemonium energy and shake the foundations the structures stood upon. Mickey was a black streak of shadows that danced alongside Cat's orange flames.
Eventually, they came to a particularly destructive halt atop one of the Plaza's many shops. Mickey bounced back and forth on his toes like a boxer ready to fight. "Whoo! I love the city! So much to do, so much to see, so much to BLOW THE FRIG UP!!"
"Whoa, Mickey, check it out!" Cat laughed as she giddily peaked over the edge at the street beneath them. "Looks like the Doom Pits opened up and crapped out all its rejects down there!"
Mickey joined the Pandemonium Warrior in observing the demented parade that was beginning. "Awesome sauce. We're totally getting in on this, aren't we?"
"Do squirrels have nuts?" Cat replied before she and Mickey took a leap of faith into the commotion. "HOO-WAH!"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Aug 12, 2015 14:58:00 GMT -5
The surge of Pandemonium Energy that streaked across the night sky like a shooting star caught the eye of a lone mage that had been wandering the city streets. Rio looked to the horizon, eyes narrowed at first, then relaxing into a fascinated smile. His emotions were released through his magical aura, showering the nearest buildings in what first appeared to be fluid, spirit-like apparitions, but then gathered together and knitted themselves into the familiar patterns of cobwebs.
"Curious. T'would semble that my compatriots hath held thineselves abroad," he mused, raising a hand in a pondering gesture. A small amount of illusion magic flowed forth, filling the air with the sights and sounds of a murder of crows. "Assuredly, being ware of their thrawn, churlish conduct, Cat and Mickey hath been quite the tomnoddies this moon. Thineselves and myself must be conjoint to assure said urchins are not wont to err thus."
Rio then vanished from his previous, lonesome hiding place, apparating right into the middle of the gathering of monsters.
At the front of the parade march, Jack smiled at Todd and tipped his hat.
"Jakoval Trades. Please, call me Jack.
Pleasure to meet you on this night so pitch black.
I see your viola. May I make a request?
If you start us off, I'll handle the rest."
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Post by DMis on Aug 12, 2015 15:23:01 GMT -5
Todd nodded. "Sure. May I ask what it is?" Todd calmly replied.
Beth watched with a smile as the two chatted.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Aug 12, 2015 15:29:20 GMT -5
Mickey's ears perked as he suddenly picked up on a powerful surge of magic. "Oh Cat, crap. Er, uh- Crap, Cat. It's crap- Gah, uh. Rio. I-It's Rio!"
"Aw, what?!" Cat complained. "Man, he's gonna be a killjoy all up in here! We gotta blend in."
"He's closer to the back," Mickey noted. "Wanna go up front? I think those guys are gonna start a song."
"Cool cool," Cat agreed as the duo navigated through the crowd.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Aug 12, 2015 15:39:31 GMT -5
Rio frowned at the inconvenience of where he teleported to, his frustration causing a few surrounding monsters to transform into fire elementals. He was about to cast a divination spell over the crowd to locate his teammates, but something stopped him. Something drew his attention away from Cat and Mickey and to the leader.
"An enchantment?" Rio questioned. "For what purpose doth yonder fellow enchant these terrorfiends?"
Jack's grin widened, not just at Todd, but at the sight of a menswear store just down the road. Everything was coming together. They sure were in for a show that night.
"Todd, if I may, this is Halloween.
We need a grand, haunting tune. I think you know what I mean."
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Post by DMis on Aug 12, 2015 17:47:24 GMT -5
Beth and Todd both grinned wide.
"With pleasure Jack~" the violist replied as he started into the tune.
Several rogue monsters joined in for the other instruments.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Aug 12, 2015 20:18:22 GMT -5
Cat and Mickey exchanged wide, toothy grins as Todd's music filled the street.
"AWWWWW YEAH!"
"This my JAM!"
They excitedly continued to work their way towards the front of the crowd, their thoughts of Rio a distant memory.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Aug 12, 2015 20:35:30 GMT -5
As the music began, Jack quickened his pace, yet still somehow managed to walk in time with the tempo. He stopped in the middle of the street, standing alone before the massive gathering of monsters and misfits. Then he turned around to face his audience, waving his cane like a circus sideshow announcer, and he sang.
"Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see
This our town of Halloween"
Jack beckoned his companions to follow, resuming their march down the street, with many getting into antics of their own as they sang along.
"This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night"
A wave of his hand on the downbeat, and suddenly the Jack-o-lanterns that lined the sidewalks were ignited, their malevolent grins glowing yellow and white.
"This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat 'til the neighbors gonna die of fright"
He twirled his cane over his head, then slammed it down with a mighty thunderclap.
"It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween"
And then, slowly and gracefully, Jack disappeared into the shadows, granting whoever wished for it the oncoming solos.
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Post by DMis on Aug 12, 2015 22:33:26 GMT -5
A rogue Rakasha Grimm grinned from the crowd. "I am the one hiding under your bed. Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red," came a feminine voice from the being before waving to Cat and Mickey.
Todd happily kept playing as Beth watched.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Aug 12, 2015 22:44:43 GMT -5
Mickey waved back before elevating himself slightly above the crowd. Shadow matter swirled around him, the ethereal tendrils writhing from his claws and long black locks.
"I am the one hiding under yours stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair"
He touched back down and marched alongside Cat, both of them among the loudest in the choir.
"This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Aug 12, 2015 22:58:40 GMT -5
Given that this musical number could be heard for miles around, it was only a matter of time before a certain hyperactive, pop culture-loving, multi-faceted mage caught wind of it and joined in. Patrick appeared atop the awning of one of the Plaza's shops, sitting cross-legged and adorned with a comically villainous grin... purely for show, of course.
"In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song"
From out of the shadows cast by that very same awning, Jack reemerged, now clad in a white dress shirt, black dress pants, fancy black shoes, and his signature trilby.
"In this town, don't we love it now
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise"
He danced across the street and vanished once again, completely oblivious to the wide-eyed stare -followed shortly by a gleeful smile- Patrick gave him from above.
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