SOMETHING DEAD THAT DOESN'T KNOW IT'S DEAD.
» THE CITY — INTRODUCTORY NOTES
Now that Halloween is just around the corner, the city is starting to come alive with seasonal cheer. You start to spot decorations scattered around the city: plastic skeletons sitting on benches, jack-o-lanterns decorating front stoops, and even a few places in the park near City Hall where the trees themselves have been decorated. It's clear that the autumn season is in full swing and the city is making the most of it.
From the morning of October 19, you also start to notice flyers hung up around the city that advertise the local university's homecoming Halloween party. They're cheerfully decorated much the same as the newsletter that was delivered to residents earlier in the month, and they're hung from light poles, pinned to bulletin boards, and occasionally fluttering on front stoops of apartment buildings. There might even be one taped to your door when you open it in the morning.
The flyer announces that the Halloween party will begin on October 22 and will run through October 31. It runs every night from sunset to midnight, and residents are encouraged to attend in costume! If they have their own costume, perhaps found at the Halloween Superstore, that's perfect—if they don't have a costume, though, one will be provided to them by the party organizers. Doesn't that just sound like fun? And the flyers really are everywhere, and that makes it hard not to take notice—but once you take notice, you really can't stop noticing.
Indeed, once you read one of the flyers, you just can't help but read the flyer every time you encounter another one. And every time you read one, you find yourself feeling a little more curious about the party being advertised. Will it be anything like the Halloween I know? you may think. Or, I don't even know what Halloween is, I wonder what it'll be like. It's not quite enough to compel you to pay a visit to the address on the flyer, which is one of the dorm buildings on the university campus, but it's definitely enough to get you thinking about Halloween. Maybe you ought to go find a costume…
But Halloween parties and costumes are not all you're thinking about. It's easy enough to write off at first, as tricks of the light or a figment of your imagination: flickers of shadow at the corner of your eye, cold spots in your apartment, creaking footsteps in your empty living room. There's nothing there when you turn your head to look, nothing there when you flick on the lightswitch to see if someone's in your house—but somehow, that doesn't reassure you.
By the evening of October 21, every resident in the city has been visited by some sort of entity haunting their house, and every resident of the city has been left a gift: a dorm room key, each differently numbered. You may find the key in your pocket, or on your bedside table, or in your favorite coffee mug.
Should you decide to attend the party, it will be up to you to decide: Is this just the City getting in the spirit of the season? Or is it something more… malevolent?
The flyers will be strewn about the city in various locations beginning on October 19. Characters who read them will find themselves feeling oddly compelled to go check out the advertised Halloween party, which will run from October 22 to October 31 between sunset and midnight. For the most part this will just feel like a sense of curiosity about the party, and astute characters may be able to pick up on the fact that they're being emotionally manipulated a bit.
Characters who choose to go can wear a costume of their choosing from the Halloween Superstore, or the City will provide one if they don't have a costume of their own yet. (Read on for more information about how characters can get their hands on a costume!)
Lastly, every character will find a dorm room key somewhere on their person before the party starts on October 22. This key may or may not correspond to a room in the dorm where the party is being held—of course, characters are not obligated to use the key, but they may want to know what's hiding behind those closed doors.
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ALL THESE GHOSTS COME STREAMING DOWN.
» THE CITY — GETTING THE PARTY STARTED
On the morning of October 22, every device in the city starts to buzz.
The screen illuminates, displaying a white page not unlike the orientation survey that welcomed you into the city. Unlike the orientation survey, though, there are no questions—only a single phrase in bold, dark text. THE GOOD OF THE MANY, it says, with a single "OK" button below.
For a minute, nothing else happens. You try to turn the device off, but the screen stays lit; you try to reboot the device, but the screen stays lit. It seems that the only way to get rid of the screen is to press the button.
…Have you done this before? Or are you having déjà vu?
At sunset that same day, the Halloween party will open for the first time. The party's entrance is located on the ground level of a large three-story dorm building in the western half of the university campus. The double doors into the building are fully decorated with folded-paper bats and ghosts, cotton batting pulled apart to make spiderwebs, and a cut-out sign that says "HAUNTED HOUSE" in bright red, dripping-blood letters. The decor looks almost… corny, hokey in a way that can't possibly be threatening. Right?
But the decorated double doors aren't the only way that residents may enter the party. Of course, the organizers would prefer that you use the front doors, but if you'd prefer not to, they have other ways of getting you inside.
After the party begins on October 22, any door in the city that you walk through has the potential to become a door into the first level of the dorm building. You may exit your apartment and find yourself standing in the darkened lobby; you may walk out of the bathroom and run right into a handful of cotton spiderwebbing. Unfortunately, there's nothing to indicate whether or not a door might lead to the party until you're through it—and once you're through it, there's no turning around. The only way out, as they say, is deeper in.
Were you wearing a costume in preparation for the party? Fantastic, you'll keep that costume on! But if you weren't wearing a costume, don't worry—the party's organizers have you covered. You look down and find that no matter what you were wearing before, you are now wearing a costume of some kind. Maybe it's one you would have chosen for yourself, or maybe it's totally not to your taste. If you truly hate it, you can try to take it off… although you may not find it easy to remove.
Once the party begins on October 22, as stated above, any door in the city has the potential to become a door that leads directly to the first level of the haunted house. Characters will not be able to tell by any means whether a door is pointed there or not; only once they're fully through the door will they realize that they're actually standing in the lobby of the decorated dorm building and not in whatever room they intended to enter. Once characters are inside, there's unfortunately no way to get out, not without making their way through the haunted house itself.
Whether a character enters the haunted house via the main double doors or through another door somewhere else in the city, they'll need to come in costume. (Their own canon clothes do not count!) If they're already wearing a costume, they can keep it on arrival; however, those who enter the haunted house costumeless will be assigned a costume at random by the city. The actual costume is up to the player's choice. It may end up being something that suits the character, or it may end up being something totally embarrassing—that's completely up to the player.
Regardless, characters will have a difficult (but not impossible) time removing the costume until they have exited the haunted house. This includes both physical difficulty (feeling as though the costume is fused to their skin, feeling physical resistance to undoing zippers/buttons, etc.) and mental difficulty (an overwhelming sense of dread or vulnerability). Characters are able to overcome both of these difficulties to remove the costume if they're dedicated enough; the clothes they were originally wearing may be still on under the costume or might be awaiting them at home when they return.
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THEY GO TO GROUND AND ROT.
» THE HAUNTED HOUSE — LEVEL 1
CONTENT WARNINGS: One image containing fake spiders, mention of spidery feelings; mention of zombies (but no images)
The ground floor of the dorm is decorated much how one might expect a haunted house at a university to be decorated. The entrance to the haunted house proper is through a tunnel of cotton spiderwebs filled with little plastic spiders, so narrow that it forces you to hunch down and squish together to get through. Although it feels claustrophobic, and you may imagine the sensation of little spider legs crawling over your body, once you make it through the tunnel it becomes clear that the spiders never actually moved. Whew!
The tunnel lets out into the first-floor dorm, a long (too long?) stretch of hallway with doors leading to rooms on either side. Some of the doors are closed and locked, but many are open, allowing you a glimpse as you pass. As you walk down the hallway, you make sure to peer into each of the rooms. Some of the doors lead to total blackness; others lead to rooms decorated like an elaborate Victorian haunted mansion, and yet others even lead to perfectly normal dorm rooms, like someone forgot to get around to decorating. And sometimes—not every time, but often enough—when you peer into one of the rooms, there's something peering back.
Most of the frights you get on the first floor come in the form of animatronics, realistic-looking ones that jump out at you as you pass and give you a fright. There's a man with a bloody knife, or a zombie with flesh hanging from its teeth, or a clown with sharp, venomous-looking fangs—they leap out of the doorways with a startling quickness, but never come close enough to touch. They just brandish their weapons, then retreat back into the room they came from as if satisfied with the scare they've given.
There are also a handful of real scare actors on the first floor as well, perhaps even some faces you recognize. They lurk in the darkened rooms and leap out with growls or shrieks, then chase you a few meters down the hall before leaving you to run away. Just like the animatronics, though, they never get close enough to touch or harm you—they just want to get your blood racing.
The rest of the scares come from paintings that abruptly change form to show a ghost's face, or candles that swoop down across your path and then move back up. And behind it all are the spooky sounds of groans and screams and tearful begging, a solemn soundtrack to your trip through the haunted house.
Oddly, you never do see a speaker. And even more oddly still, none of the rooms on the first floor match the number of the key you're holding…
The first level of the haunted house consists of fairly cheap scares, mostly relying on animatronics, voiceover tracks, and tricks of the light or optical illusions to deliver scares to the residents. Players should feel free to use their imaginations to come up with potential scares or animatronics—think something moderately more scary than Haunted Mansion but less than Halloween Horror Nights. The animatronics may feature enemies or monsters from characters' home worlds, or may be simply generic creatures you would find at a Halloween store.
In addition, the first level is also populated by characters working as scare actors. These characters may be those who attended Robby and Tsuruno's house party, or may simply be characters with a sense of humor who enjoy making other characters jump and shriek a little. Either way, these scares are harmless and non-contact. The scare actors won't harm anyone going through the haunted house, even if they do a little chasing down the hall.
Although the hallway looks oddly long and is perhaps a bit more winding than it ought to be, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly odd about the dorm building itself. Characters may, however, find that the trip through the haunted house feels shorter when they're accompanied by another.
For characters who don't wish to venture up the stairs to the second level, there is a well-hidden emergency exit tucked out of sight behind the staircase that leads upward. This is the opt-out for players who don't wish to engage with the events in the second and third levels of the dorm.
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WE WILL NOT REMAIN UNSCATHED.
» THE HAUNTED HOUSE — LEVEL 2
CONTENT WARNINGS: Generally spooky images including some ghostly ones; mention of hanging. Prompts include violence (such as mutilation) potentially leading to serious injury or death. As always, please warn appropriately!
It's once you reach the second level that you realize something has shifted.
The metal door at the end of the hallway swings shut behind you, and you immediately realize it's far too dark and far too cold. Even with your eyes wide, you can barely make out the shapes of the decorations around you; they are lit mostly by the flickering orange of electric candles and the glow of the emergency exit sign above your head. Your breath condenses into steam as you exhale, and although you rub your hands together, you can't quite seem to gain any warmth. You feel a little bit dizzy and off-kilter, and from the distance you can hear the sound of a voice murmuring in quiet, urgent tones, interrupted by brief bouts of sobbing. You try the door behind you, but it doesn't give: you are stuck here, and must make it out.
The hallway is decorated, but even the same decorations that felt corny downstairs now give this floor an air of discomfort and desperation. As you make your way down the hall, you notice that many more of the doors on this level are open, and in the sickly, dim light cast by the fake candles, you're able to catch glimpses of what's inside: shadowy figures moving in the blackness. These are creatures that seem made of the dark itself, congealed into something more or less resembling a person. There's one sitting at the desk like a good student, its too-long fingernails rasping over the surface as it scratches something into the wood. There's one sitting on the windowsill, its too-long limbs hanging out into the night. There's one hanging from the ceiling, its feet at eye level, swaying slightly in an unfelt breeze. There's one standing dead in the middle of the room and staring straight at you, its eyes two embers in its featureless head.
You lock eyes briefly and the creature starts to move: this ghost is coming after you, and this one means it. There's no animatronic rigging to stop it and pull it back into the darkness of the room, and it's no scare actor that will stop after a few meters of pursuit—no, its hands reach for you, for your hair, your throat, fingers clutching and grasping. You turn and run, but it pursues, and that voice you heard murmuring earlier is now a fever pitch of syllables behind you, half-whispered, half-screamed in a language you can't understand. The noise of it draws more ghosts out from their rooms, and they follow as you sprint down the too long, twisting length of the hallway. You can see the glow of the exit sign at the end lf the hallway, drawing closer as you madly dash for it—
And then you trip. Or maybe you're pushed, you're not sure. You hit the carpet hard and then the ghost is on you, its hands scrabbling at your throat, fingers prodding at your eyes. Of course you fight back—if you don't, you're going to die—but as you fumble blindly for something with which to beat the ghost off, you realize that this ghost has weight to it, that the fingers trying to tear out your throat aren't incorporeal and ghostly but rather the fingers of a pair of very human hands. As you blink, eyes straining in the darkness, the features of the ghost begin to resolve into those of a person.
And it is a person. It's a person you may even know, a friend of yours, a fellow resident of the City. Not a mannequin facsimile, but someone real, someone who fights you with everything in them as you struggle to break free.
Your grasping hand grips something firm, maybe a flashlight or a fire extinguisher, and you swing it as hard as you can at their head. You don't want to, this is your friend, but what choice do you have? After all—it's either them or you.
Once characters enter the second level of the haunted house, those attuned to energy flow will immediately be able to recognize this as a place full of negative ghostly energy. Characters may sneak extremely carefully and quietly through the hallways, avoiding every single ghost; they may be pursued by ghosts, but ultimately make it to the exit, beyond which the ghosts will not pursue; or they may be caught by a ghost (or "ghost") and be forced to fight for their lives.
Not all of the "ghosts" on the second level are truly ghosts. Players may opt to have their characters participate in the event as the considerably more deadly "scare actors" of the second level. Only they won't be acting: to these characters, anyone who passes by in the second-floor hallway (the "partygoer") is an absolute threat that must be dealt with immediately. Scare actor characters will be possessed by an irrepressible need to hunt down and attempt to injure or kill any partygoer or other scare actor they encounter, and can only be stopped by either death (of either the partygoer or the scare actor) or being knocked out and removed from the hallway.
These characters may also be those who attended Robby and Tsuruno's Halloween house party and ended up getting a little too in-character in a negative way (see their plotting post for more information). However, characters do not have to attend the house party in order to participate in this mechanic. Any character who enters the haunted house can become a second-floor ghost if the player so desires.
Either the scare actor or partygoer may be seriously injured or even die. If this happens to the partygoer, the haze of bloodlust will immediately lift from the scare actor and reveal to them what they've done. (If the scare actor is knocked out or dead, obviously this realization will take place after they've returned or regained consciousness.) Killing and death as a part of the October event is not subject to murder or death consequences.
If a character chooses to sneak through the second floor and avoid the ghosts, and does so by entering any of the decorated dorm rooms, they may find shorthand messages scratched into the desks, closets, or doors. These messages might just be names, familiar ones belonging to people from home, or might say things like HELP ME or ITERATION 4█ or LOOK BEHIND THE APOCALYPSES. Characters may also find small, non-magical, recognizable personal effects belonging to people from their home worlds, tucked into drawers or kicked under the bed or in some otherwise unobtrusive location, easily overlooked.
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WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY, SET SOMETHING ON FIRE.
» THE HAUNTED HOUSE — LEVEL 3 AND CONCLUSION
After the second level of the haunted house, the only way to go is up… assuming you survived, that is. Exhausted and battered, you make your way up the stairs—perhaps alone, perhaps with a friend, or perhaps dragging the unconscious body of your assailant-friend—and let yourself into the third-floor common area.
This is where the Halloween party is taking place! Congratulations, you made it! There's a bass-heavy soundtrack throbbing in the background, and the room is decorated once again in the cheesy Halloween decor of the entryway. A large casket full of ice holds beers and sodas, and a table in the middle of the room bears all sorts of spooky snacks: peeled-grape "eyeballs," candy corn "teeth," sour gummy worms in brownie dirt, and any other kind of snack one might imagine.
If you made it through the haunted house with a friend, you will find a letterman jacket in your favorite colors, with your name embroidered on the back, hanging on a peg on the far wall of the room. You can take it with you now, or when you go home, or you can leave it on the peg forever—it's your choice, but it is a symbol of having survived the haunted house, so it might be nice to have. Don't you think?
You may have to do this again, you realize. Now that the doors in the city occasionally open straight into the haunted house, there's no telling how many times you'll have to survive this before the Halloween party draws to its close. Maybe you do need a beer after all…
Oh, and you still don't know what dorm room that key goes to. Maybe you had better just hang onto it for now.
The topmost floor of the dorm building, the third floor, is where the "party" part of the Halloween party is taking place! The food and drink is abundant and, of course, free. There's just about any type of drink or Halloween-themed snack imaginable, so characters can help themselves. When they're through partying, there's an outside staircase that leads directly from the common room back down to ground level.
Characters who survive the haunted house in a group of two or more will find that that there is a custom-made letterman jacket with their name on the back, perfectly their size, hanging on a coat rack on the far side of the room. While wearing this jacket, characters will be less susceptible to the scares in the haunted house, and the ghosts of the second floor will not pursue them as intently (although it has no effect on scare actor characters). To any characters who are particularly sensitive to this sort of thing, the jackets do have a moderate protective effect against various negative status effects, so to speak; this effect does not diminish after the event is over. Characters can only get one jacket, their first time through the haunted house; subsequent trips through will not result in additional jackets.
The dorm room key is not a usable item during the October 2023 event, but will become usable in November and December, so characters are advised to not lose them.
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WILDCARD.
The city is by no means small, and there are plenty of things for you to see. There's no rush in exploring, so feel free to take your time looking around and peering into various nooks and crannies and alleyways—and don't worry, you're not very likely to find anything peering back.
If none of the above prompts appeal, feel free to check out the Locations and Maps pages and write your own freestyle prompt using one or many of the available locations.
This month's event headers come from "Landscape with Fruit Rot and Millipede," a poem by Richard Siken.
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citylogs2023-10-19 09:00 pm
no subject
Hob nods at the mention of the other party and listens as Loki relates what happened, at least in the general sense. Loki probably doesn't want to share the details if they were severe enough to make him feel guilty for his actions. Hob just hopes others downstairs are alright, too. ]
It sounds like it was horrible. I'm so sorry.
[ But despite how awful it had been, Loki was concerned for Hob and what he might have seen.
And then there's another unspoken topic, and the gears start to click together. Oh. What Loki said before. I like you very much. Was that not just a general statement of fondness between friends? Or has Hob had too much to drink, as well? ]
Another topic. About... being my "type"?
[ He ventures carefully with those words, just in case he's completely wrong and heading for a fall. ]
no subject
[By the Norns, how nice was this man? Loki is certain he does not deserve him even as a friend, forget anything more, but he’s come this far and he can see realization in Hob’s eyes just before he speaks, confirming that. Loki feels a blush tinge his cheeks and he blinks, taking his hand away from Hob’s face and looking back down.]
I had a conversation with a mutual acquaintance of ours. She mentioned that our time at the carnival, on the Ferris Wheel seemed much like a date. And I guess I was wondering what you might think of that. [Leave it to Loki to answer a question by not really answering it at all.]
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A mutual friend? She? Hob cab make a good, educated guess on who that person is, given his inner circle of friends is still fairly small. ]
Like I said, it was one of the nicest times I've had since I've been here. Actually, I've enjoyed all of the time we've spent together.
no subject
Yes, you did mention that. [Loki’s voice is a bit sad now as he prepares himself for rejection. That’s what it sounds like to him in the moment. Enjoying ones time with another did not truly answer his question and he gets the distinct feeling he’s about to be let down easy. But once again, he’s come this far and he needs a straight answer. If there’s one thing Loki has gotten good at over the last decade or so, it’s dealing with rejection and pain.]
That does not answer my question though. I admit I am not familiar with traditional dating customs from your world, so I am going very much on hearsay here. I guess what I am trying to say, and quite badly I may add, is if our time at the carnival was not a date, would you like to try a real one? With me? [He waits a beat before rambling on.] It is quite alright if you do not. I understand you have others here from your world that you might prefer to… spend time with. We have only really just met, in the grand scheme of things, but if you are interested…
no subject
Though there's a touch of surprise on his face when Loki says he's aware there may be 'others' Hob would prefer. Is he really so transparent? The thought is followed by a soft frown. The hand he still holds is squeezed gently. ]
When I got here, I thought it would be a good idea to meet some people. Make some friends. It would be safer that way. I didn't consider it a good idea to get overly attached to anyone, but when it came to you, I couldn't help it.
[ Hob smiles, exasperated by his own rambling, this time. ]
What I mean to say is, if we were back home, my home, anyway, on Earth, I probably would've asked you out already, so... yeah, I think I'd like to go on a date with you.
[ Hob's not sure what a date in a mostly empty city looks like, but he's sure they'll figure something out. ]
no subject
It takes a minute for the rest of what Hob is saying to register. Loki squeezes his hand in return, looking up at Hob in surprise.]
You would have asked me out already? [There is a combination of surprise and giddiness on Loki’s face that he simply does not have the ability to hide. This really is going much better than he ever could have hoped. Especially since he was still quite drunk.] This is me simply hearing what I would like to due to the alcohol I have imbibed, is it?
no subject
No, it's not the alcohol. I would've asked after we got off the ferris wheel. I just wouldn't expect you to say 'yes'. Because you're my "type", but my type is usually out of my league.
[ That doesn't stop Hob from reaching for the stars. He's been trying to climb his whole life, building a better future, becoming a better man, but a human often has limits, even an immortal one. ]
no subject
I find that hard to believe. If anything, it is you who are out of my league.
[Of course it helps that Hob is immortal, but only in the way that Loki can’t imagine having feelings for someone who would only live for a fraction of his life. Though it is something he keeps well hidden from most, Loki’s feelings are easily hurt and he’s always imagined such a thing would tear his heart from his chest, and he is far too selfish to be willing to experience such a thing. Otherwise, Loki feels like Hob is far too good a person to look at him at all. He’s still amazed that they are even friends, but that he might get more? Well, Loki doesn’t think he’s ever felt more grateful in his life.]
no subject
Hob could go on disagreeing with Loki, who is a god and therefore, most certainly out of his league, but he doesn't want to take the conversation down that path. And as a god, Loki is immortal, like him. The idea still hasn't quite registered in that way just yet. Hob is used to the inevitability of loss. ]
Well, I hope we’re not too out of each other's league for dance.
[ Yes, that was an invitation. Hob steps from his bar stool, still holding Loki's hand and waits to see if he'd like to go with him to the dance floor. ]
no subject
Since arriving in the City though, he has found many more people receptive to his company, which appreciates more than he would ever let anyone know. Except maybe for Hob. He easily recognized him immediately as one of the best people he’s ever had the pleasure to spend time with and suspects he’s not the only one to think so. Why else would he have been gifted with immortality?]
Absolutely not.
[Loki grins and squeezes Hob’s hand as he stands. He’s glad he had a few moments to sit, allowing him to sober somewhat, though now he feels high on endorphins from having such a positive reaction from Hob. This time Loki takes the lead, moving them back towards the dance floor.]
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As they dance, Hob rests his hand on Loki's shoulder, moving close, but skilled enough not to stumble over Loki's feet or trip over his own. ]
I didn't have the chance to mention how handsome you look in your costume.
[ Though Hob has definitely noticed. He glances down to look at Loki again, which isn't quite as easy now that they're close. His hand on Loki's shoulder slides down to the upper part of his chest as he admires the god, feeling the soft leather beneath his fingers. ]
It's quite fetching on you.
no subject
As they move around, it feels as if they have danced together a thousand times before. Loki pulls him in a little closer, leading him around in small, slow circles, feeling almost enchanted.]
Thank you. I was quite lucky to find it, though I suspect this place had costumes picked out for us. [After all, it seems odd that something he found in a random shop had fit quite so perfectly and been exactly what he’d been looking for.]
I like your outfit as well, though I dare say you always look good in whatever you choose to wear.
no subject
Although he was never royalty, Hob did spend a lot of time climbing social ladders, enough that he had to dance like a gentleman when the occasion called for it. Of course, dancing has changed a lot over the years.
The compliment gets a modest smile. ]
You are quite the charmer. How was I ever supposed to think twice about a date?
[ Why would he ever turn down a date with Loki? ]
no subject
An uncharacteristically shy smile crosses Loki’s face and his cheeks heat at the compliment.]
I do not know, but I am glad you did not. Especially with my rather less than charming way of going about it.
[Loki can think of lots of reasons why someone might turn down a date with him, but he’s not about to look this gift horse in the mouth.]
no subject
I thought you were cute.
[ He smiles up at Loki, then blushes when the tilt of his chin brings their faces closer together. A soft puff of breath and he turns his face so they're more cheek-to-cheek as they dance, moving together, closely, with slow steps. He really likes dancing with Loki. It's comfortable, in a way, and Hob feels at ease. ]
no subject
Hob’s comment makes him laugh, low but honest.]
I do not believe anyone has referred to me as cute before. But thank you, I think.
[As they move together, Loki shifts enough so there’s no more doubt, pressing his cheek to Hob’s and closing his eyes as he feels them sway around the room. He tightens the arm at Hob’s waist, lining it more securely along his lower back to hold him a bit closer and smiles, whispering against Hob’s cheek.]
Dancing with you is pure joy.
no subject
Both of his arms squeeze Loki slightly in response, keeping close contact with him as they continue to move in slow steps on the dance floor. This is too nice. He could exist like this for a hundred years and not complain at all, but after a couple more songs, he realizes how late it's getting. Dream appears to be off somewhere, so Hob figures he'll see his friend back at home. ]
Look at the hour.
[ He parts from Loki, just enough to speak to him. ]
Can I walk you home?
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As much as he would have told Hob everything, had he asked, he’s happy to have had the time to not think on it so desperately for a time.]
I would love that, thank you.
[Really, he doesn’t want this part of the night to end at all, but having some time alone with Hob to cap it off is about the best way he can think of to end it.]
no subject
Hob leads the way to the door he's seen other people exit through, and he's thankful to find it exits to stairs outside the building that go back down to the street. There's a slight spring in his step, both from the fresh air and from the time they spent together. ]
I imagine there will be more parties in the future, since this place likes to celebrate holidays. Hopefully they don't all start out the way this one did.
[ He likes how this one ended, though. ]
no subject
Maybe he just likes the idea that he has someone he likes who is willing to listen.]
You know, usually I’m a fan of parties. I was originally at the alternate party. I had thought I wouldn’t come to this one at all, but the City had other plans, it seems. As much as I did not like how this one started, and maybe would like to steer clear of any major gathering for awhile, I know I would enjoy further celebrations. Especially if you are there.
no subject
Well, I'm glad you were there. And maybe we can go to the next party together.
[ Although, had they been together on the second floor, the outcome might have been even more upsetting. ]
no subject
As they walk, Loki can feel a frown pulling at his face until Hob speaks again. On a whim, he takes Hob's hand.] I would absolutely love to go to the next party with you. I would be certain to make sure nothing attacked you. [He looks pointedly for a moment at the bandage on Hob's neck.]
new icon! <3
Sweet enough that Hob takes a step closer, looking up into the taller man's eyes. His unclaimed hand touches the side of Loki's face tenderly and he drifts in, using the look on Loki's face to determine if he minds if Hob kisses his lips with gentle affection. ]
Thanks!
Taking Hob’s hand had be a bit of a whim, so as he feels the gentle touch to his face, there is surprise in his eyes, but nothing to say he doesn’t enjoy exactly where this appears to be heading. In other words, no, he does not mind at all, and he finds himself drifting closer as well.]
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Hob's fingers caress Loki's cheek, holding the kiss for a moment before it ends. With a smile, he chuckles sheepishly. ]
Sorry. I just.. I appreciate your concern.
[ Maybe his timing wasn't the best, but he simply followed the whim of his heart. ]
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