Stalk the Halls (Halloween Open House)

[Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual]

Although it took a few tries to get through the doorway of his room due to the oversized helmet that rested on his head- a glossy, swooping thing of purest black- Alex was nothing less than giddy as he stepped into the hallways of the Hub. Adjusting the set of glasses and tie that matched his helmet in both coloration and cartoonishness, he began walking towards Oscar's quarters. It was Halloween! And apparently the UCA had decided to recognize this, because they had, beginning several weeks ago, offered to provide any costume requested of them. Alex figured it was just a paper-thin attempt to raise the spirits of its non-monster inhabitants and perhaps even gain their trust as well, but that didn't matter to him.

It was the holidays! And even being trapped in a gladiatorial dimension by an unknown group of people with unbelievable power at their disposal could not stop that.

Oscar answered the door after the first knock. The big Scottish pilot was wearing a red shirt with a black collar and curved insignia. He greeted Alex with a half hearted salute and a smirk.

Alex laughed. No wonder Oscar had refused to tell him his costume beforehand. "Reporting for duty there, Scotty?"

"Ya' know it. Ah'm givin' her all ah got an' all that, captain."

"Heh. Guess we should go meet up with Sam now."

"Don't bother. I'm right here," came a stony female voice from behind the pair. Both turned to look at the source.

Sam wore a stained shirt and thick combat pants held up by suspenders. She had let down her short blonde hair and frizzed it until it ringed her head like a curly mane. A plastic flamethrower- the rule on weapons in the Hub had not changed, after all- was tucked under her arm. All that was missing was a shiny black alien for her to do battle with, and Alex was fairly certain that the UCA's resident space bug had took her leave some time ago.

"God," breathed Oscar as he jabbed a thumb at Alex. "Ah can't believe this one convinced you to dress up. You goin' soft on us?"

"He pestered me for two weeks straight. The only ways to stop it were this and strangling him. And I don't think our gracious hosts would allow the second option."

"Aw, you know you wanted to," chirped Alex. "Deep down, I mean. You picked a good one too. I never knew you liked that movie."

Sam was quiet for a moment. "It was my dad's favorite. The first time he showed it to me was after my mother specifically forbid him to." She shook her head briefly then looked Alex's costume up and down before arching an eyebrow. "Darth Vader?"

"Try Dark Helmet. Haven't you seen Spaceballs?"

"No."

"What? Oh, that will not do. We're having a movie night."

"Like hell we are, Shepherd."

Oscar stepped forward with his hands raised. "Okay, okay... let's not let things get too warm and cozy between you guys, n'kay? The fighting is for the monster, remember?"

Sam rolled her eyes while Alex merely shrugged it off. His helmet rattled a bit as he looked around.

"Say, you think anyone else will be dressed up? There aren't many other humans here and I'm not sure if many alien cultures practice our exact Earth holiday."

"I doubt it," answered Sam. "I bet you we're the only three idiots in costume."

"Aw, dun be like that!" Oscar chided. "Ya' never know. This place surprises me all the time."

Alex nodded in agreement. "Yep. We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose."

(Yeah, yeah, a bit late to do this... but if people can put up Christmas decorations months in advance, we can celebrate Halloween for a few days after the date. Go nuts, guys.)

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

"The holidays?" The voice of the Enma reached them both. Shikieiki, followed closely by Mara, appeared around the corner. "Were we are from, I am afraid we don't exactly have holidays like this... We do have some important days that we follow quite closely, but nothing like dressing up as spectres and youkai and whatnot."

Mara scratched the side of her head. "Erm... Actually... on earth we do have this holiday, in a weird roundabout way." She had on her head a golden mask, identical to that of Crigan's own. "You see, we use this day to worship the gods, and we do that by wearing masks in their image. ALas, this is the only mask I have."

Shikieki chuckled. "Well then. I think I might have a spare mask or two back at my office. Some of the workers tend to have these weird masks on them at random, so I might be able to borrow one..."

[Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual]

Alex blinked. "It's a mask? Okay, I'm going to be honest... I always thought that was just his face."

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

Mara nervously chucked. "Well, I'm sure the version Crigan wears is his face, but this is just a mask. Back in the village I lived in, we had numerous kinds of masks..."

Meanwhile, watching the events from afar, Tenshi smiled. So, the lowly commoners were having fun without her, and with disguises at that! Well... she'd just have to do her own little thing in that case. Thank goodness there was no Ranukada stalking her now...

Her eyes scanned left and right, before noticing Minos approaching her. From the looks of things, the girl seemed... really pissed, with a large metal bar being crushed in one hand, and a low growl was emanating from her. Anyone that knew Minos would have stayed clear away from the Elite Guard in her current state...

Everyone, except Tenshi. "Yo, over here!" Tenshi whispered, signaling over to her. Minos stopped, no doubt raising a non-seen eyebrow as she bore down upon the Celestial. She towered above her, and all four of her arms clenched tight, as if pondering wherever or not to snuff her life out then and there. "Hold on a second, big stuff... I got an idea for you while you wait for Persephone to get done with her match... This is what we do..."

[The Merry Lambfish]

A newcomer shuffled up to the group; a figure covered completely in a large white sheet, two silver eyes peering accusingly at Alex from crudely cut eyeholes in the cloth.

"I can't believe you got me to do this," muttered Vesica's voice from under the sheet. Under the gaze of Shikieiki, Sam, and Oscar, a flush of red rose to her cheeks, and for a brief moment she was glad her face was obscured from view.

[Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual]

"Me either," Alex said with his arms crossed. "Twelve solid days of insisting that you dress up only to get a sheet ghost? That's a rip off. I gave the Sam the same treatment and look at her. You got out-costumed by Sam. That's like being beaten in an imagination contest by a rock."

The woman's nostrils flared. The look in her eyes told that she wished her flamethrower were real at the moment. "Shepherd, I-"

"Hold on," said Oscar, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Dun go killing 'im now. Teach will want 'im back in one piece if we ever get home."

[The Merry Lambfish]

"What were you expecting?" Vesica said, crossing her arms as well - an action that appeared only as a mild billowing of the sheet. "A scantly clad pirate-devil?"


------


Far away from the small crowd stood a lone figure. His eyes were focused on the much smaller group of two on the opposite end of the hall. He was tall and athletically built - he had a strong, well defined body matched only by a breathtakingly handsome face. The man was still obviously not quite human, his eyes burned like crimson embers, and his flowing silk-like hair was an unnatural shade of blue. The beautiful figure was neither an angel or a demon.

He was a Celestial.

[Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual]

It was Alex's turn to blush. "W-what? No! I just... wished you had shown more creativity. Not more... skin."

Behind him, Oscar wore a poorly disguised smirk while Sam did not bother trying to hide her fierce scowl.

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

The Emna shook her head. "I will never understand why humans prefer showing more flesh like that... it makes no sense, but if it's a costume you want..." Shikieiki snapped her fingers. At once, her hair billowed out, and turned a glorious, vibrant gold, before segmenting into six tails that reached down to her knees, the ends of which sported large stone masks. her normal set of clothes were replaced with a golden outfit of sorts, and her upper head was covered in a golden mask, somewhat similar to that Crigan wore.

Mara looked at Shikeiki with widened eyes. "Is... is that..."

Shikieiki nodded as she floated above the ground abit. "I guess you could say I now model myself after the Creator. Granted, it's not the creator that we know... but rather, one I found from a very interesting source..."

[Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual]

"Whoa, nice!" Alex pointed an accusing finger at Vesica. "See? If she can whip up a costume like that, you totally have time to go grab a better costume."

[OmegaBearBeast]

A gigantic form made its way towards the group, footsteps resounding like thunder. Coming to a halt, the colossal figure crossed its arms and observed the other disguised creatures, trying to figure who they were - and what represented their costume. While it detailed them, they did the same to itself. It was clad in a red robe, spikes and lower jaw's scales painted white to form a mane and beard. Patterns of flame could be seen drawn on its coat. If no one had been able to recognize who was this due to her armfold, the Beast's eyes - though fade, having lost most of the color they once had - were easily recognizable, having a wisdom that only one Beast possessed - Kitamura. She dipped her head in a bow to the present people.

"Heh. Ya know how difficult it is to find a robe m' size? Hrrrm..." the master of flames and force commented with a smirk.

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

"You look nice like that." Mara called up to Kit. She had to admit, the elder look definitely fit her... it was like the bear had gone out of her way to tailor make a design on the robes. "A fire bending bear as a fire bender... definitely a fitting match."

"Fitting you say? I concour." A new voice came in from the sides. The Enma and Mara turned, and saw a tall man walking toward them. He had a grizzled short beard, greyish in color, with short hair on the head and a brownish cloak of sorts and black attire beneath. A golden chain of sorts connected the cloak around the front, and he had large brown boots. he definitely looked aged in a way, and seemed to be atleast 50 or 60. "For such a fiery beast, nothing is better equipped that the blazing appearance of a Fire Lord, though I am sure a friend of mine would be quick to argue in that regard, would you agree?"

Now a second figure appeared from the shadows, right behind the first. He was taller than him, and while he too wore a cloak, it was obvious this wasn't human. the being's entire body was covered in metallic alloy, except for the fleshy, greenish-yellow eyes and the slits there. The white mask didn't help make Mara feel so at ease either, and though the being stayed silent, it did hold up a clawed hands of sorts, that pointed right at her. Something about it seemed familiar... but for Mara, she had no idea what... "Nice to meet both of you... if I know who you are." Mara said, uncertain as to their identifies."

"You don't remember me? Well I guess my disguise is top of the class in a way, even when we fought together, side by side in the Free For all... or should I say, in your hair." The man said, a smirk appearing on his face...

[Fainis the Sadistic Pansexual]

A loud trumpet echoed throughout the Hub, and a green shape came tumbling down the hallway, literally bouncing and leaping off walls and nearly crushing the gathered group as it came crashing to a stop very close by. Alex was sent up and off his feet, while Sam and Oscar were staggered by the impact. A giant orange eye lowered itself to meet the trio with a shrill squeal of happiness. The woman pressed a frustrated hand to her forehead while the slighter of the two men struggled to his feet.

"Shepherd, have you been showing him those old Japanese children movies again? You know how he gets after seeing that trash. Do I have to remind you of the Dallas incident? Gymnastics off a skyscraper? That nearly emptied our pockets."

"How was that my fault? We didn't have any clue he was so impressionable back then! You can't blame me."

"I can and I will, Shepherd."

Plume, blissfully aware of the argument he had sparked below, chirped excitedly with his claws balled into fists. The massive basilisk was wearing a gridded green-gray shell and had plastic tusks strapped to the side of his jaws. Though his arms were rather awkwardly restrained to stick straight out in front of him, the lizard's tail lashed energetically, bashing the walls and floors of the Hub. The natural upwards curve of his jawline seemed to be even more exaggerated than usual as he stared at Kitamura, pleased to find another giant dressed up. The hyperactive reptile sang a greeting to the aging Beast.

"SORRY," came a flat electronic voice, interrupting the continued bickering of Alex and Sam. "THAT WAS ME ACTUALLY. I FIGURED HE COULDN'T DO MUCH DAMAGE HERE. FORGOT ABOUT YOU LITTLE PEOPLE. MY BAD."

Sid strode towards the group at a stunted pace, his movements slowed considerably by the starch white fat suit that he wore. A sailor's hat with the words, "Mr. Stay Puft" sat fixed on his head at an angle.

"ER SORRY AGAIN. THIS MIGHT TAKE A WHILE," droned the hybrid monster as he struggled to close the distance. "HE GOT AWAY FROM ME PRETTY QUICK. THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BAD IDEA."

"Nice costume!" cried Alex with a thumbs up.

"Sid," nodded Sam.

"Hey, how come you're not mad at him?"

"He wasn't with us the first time. He didn't know better."

Oscar pushed between the two. "Alright, alright, come on, you guys. Knock it off."

"THEY STILL AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS?" keyed Sid with a smirk.

The pilot rolled his eyes. "Of course. When aren't they?"

"SHE'S DRESSED UP THOUGH. THAT'S A SURPRISE."

"Victory one of two, by the way," added Alex. "And I think I can up that number to three if I can just convince Vesica here to go get a better costume."

[The Merry Lambfish]

"Alright, alright, I'll go change," Vesica muttered. She shuffled underneath Kitamura until she was obscured in the beast's shadow, trying her best not to trip over the sheet that covered her. As darkness covered her, the sheet suddenly sunk to the ground as she disappeared.

A new figure was arriving on the scene, stepping awkwardly towards the group. He was tall compared to the others, almost eight feet in height, and looked to be formed of twisted, rugged black bark and vines, like a walking plant. The figure's asymmetrical face glanced down at the others below, and smiled in greeting.

[OmegaBearBeast]

The "Fire Lord Kitamura" lowered her gaze to meet Plume's. She addressed him a slow nod as a greeting, smirking tenderly. With the green reptile's childlike behavior and smaller size, her warm greeting came off as nothing else but motherly. Avatar RoKit turned her attention back to Mara as she slipped her paws in her sleeves, in front of her chest.

"Thank ya, Mara. That was my son's suggestion, to dress m'self after an old firebender. Ah must say, that robe is quite comfortable."

The elder Beast looked over her shoulder when the sound of a wind gust accompanied by rapid thumping on metal was heard. Yawuld would never miss an occasion to celebrate! He ran on a wall, leaping off of it in a jump elongated by his control of the air. He landed gracefully near the humans and other beings, arms open wide. His flashy introduction was completed by his cape flowing in an exaggerated manner, his cloak forming what looked like wings below his arms. The samurai of the winds had painted his mask white and drew darker streaks on it. A red circle sat in the middle of his forehead - if it had been glowing, it would have looked as though he had a third eye on his face. Shortly after he came, two other giants followed. One was tall and furry, having painted his fur black and installed a deep sea diver's helmet on his head. The only issue was that it was not quite adjusted, and it prevented him from seeing correctly. As a result, C'Krusis had an imbalanced gait and well almost stumbled over Korr, who was walking with a rocky Proton Pack on his back. Kitamura turned around and adjusted the ogre's helmet so that he could actually see.

Finally, three last Beasts came in. Bergunth, Yakura and Masser placed themselves close to RoKit. Bergunth and Yakura were both wearing blue anoraks trimmed with fur. Streaks of light blue, grey, white and purple could be found in patterns on them. Behind the waterbenders, Masser had colored herself completely blue. For anyone who at all knew Matsumura, the teddy bear disguising herself as the Cookie Monster was all too fitting.

RoKit kept smirking as she detailed her son's clothing. The proud momma bear thought he looked quite handsome in this outfit. Despite it being colored coldly, it still had some flaming patterns on it. After all, Bergunth harnessed a power nicknamed "frostfire." She was surprised to see that her daughter had not brought any food with her, as well. Humorously, the Martial Master wondered if she had asked anyone to dress as a cookie to pair up with her costume.