A first attempt at Halloween

[Fraze]

Leaving the previous house on your trick-or-treat route, you turn and look at your next destination. It's a small one-story house with cheerful but cheap plastic decorations in the yard - skeletons with goofy grins lounging on lawn chairs, fake cobwebs spread through the branches of a tree glowing silvery in the light of the full moon, a green-skinned witch riding a broomstick hanging from a string above the front door. Light filters through the shuttered windows, and by the steps sits a jack-o-lantern carved with a very realistic face.

You walk up and ring the doorbell. There is silence for a moment, and then you hear movement. Craning your neck to look through the small window on the door, you just barely see a figure sliding down the stairs. A moment later, the door opens.

"Welcome, welcome! Please, step inside!" The figure in front of you exclaims excitedly. They're completely covered by a long black hooded robe, wearing a skeleton mask and holding a scythe that looks to be made of a broomstick and some cardboard.

You step inside the house. It's decorated much like the front yard, with happy ghosts and monsters arranged over someone's living room. Looking out the window, you see the crescent moon shining in.

"I'm so happy, you're my first visitor of the night!" The figure bustles over to a small table and picks up a bowl of candy. At a second glance, you realize the face barely visible under the mask seems to be another mask. You can't quite tell how many fingers are holding the scythe.

The figure holds the bowl out to you. Doing a quick inventory, you see a pretty good assortment, with several of your favorites. But wait, how can they be.your favorites if you've never seen or heard of any of them before?

"Please, take some!" the figure says happily. You become aware of a ringing in your head that's been growing in intensity since you entered the house. It is a name, the name of the one that lies beyond the dark, the watcher in the tower at the edge of all things, Qxithy-

"Oh dear, I'm doing it again, aren't I?" The ringing in your head fades, and you blink several times. "I'm terribly sorry about that, I'm still not used to being around mort - ah, guests. I've never celebrated Halloween before, but I really wanted to try it out!" They hold the bowl of candy out to you once again.

You make your choice, say your thanks, and step outside again. The figure waves a writhing tendril as you walk on to the next house, and you wave back.

[Celestial]

Jackie blinks at the creature. "...you know what, I've been at my job long enough not to ask questions. I could use a few chocolates with a cup of tea as I work," she picks a few caramels out and puts them into her pocket. "You seem nice. I think Andy would like you- they're our resident demon. Perhaps I should mention them to you. They're not a mortal so you won't give them a headache," she rolls her eyes. "I cannot promise they will not though."

She takes out a candy and pops one into her mouth. "Now, I have things to do. Goodbye," she brushes herself off. "I do hope that you leave no psychic residue, or I have a lot of explaining to do to Erika."

[Shinko]

The ghostly thylacine gives a suspicious growl at the whatever-it-is in the cloak.

"You smell like the shadow," she snarls matter-of-factly. "The shadow that killed me before my time. The same stink of magic that is not where it should be."

Ice forms on every surface around her, before she gives a soft, annoyed exhale. "I will look the other way this once, because you do not seem hostile. But I will keep my eye on you."

The thylacine takes a small packet of jerky, then turns, though as promised she glowers over her shoulder as she departs.

[June Scarlet]

A girl dressed as a witch goes up to the house. "Oh, this is an interesting house," she says. "You're doing a lovely job."

She selects a peanut butter cup, and leaves, waving back at the figure as she leaves.

[Gelquie]

The hooded-cloaked mage stands there for some time, their curiosity now struck by the hooded figure who's dressed like death but seems to be... something else. How did it all add up? What did it all mean? If they weren't mortal, than what were they, and what sort of thing did they normally...?

They realized they'd been standing there for too long, and they shake their head to bring themselves back to reality. Reality of what's in front of them and... the cardboard scythe, the decorations abound, the terrific pumpkin carving job, the nice candy in front of them that they seem to inexplicably like... What were they doing, second-guessing this being for no good reason? It is their first Halloween. That's more important than what they are, surely.

"Sorry, I went staring into space," the mage confesses. "Anyway, this is a great first Halloween you've put on! Thank you so much for the candies. You've got some great ornaments and your pumpkin carving skills are great; I bet they'd win a competition."

They smile and begin to walk away with a wave. "Keep it up! Hope to see you next year!"

[Liou]

"Hello?" Sensing something different about this house, the raptor-vampire stalks very carefully up to the door. They put more care into their head movements, unsure if their glamour will work here, and nearly trip on their feet from the intensity of their dinosaur-walk. They peer at the moon seen from indoors, unsure whether this is a waxing or waning crescent.

"Happy Halloween! We are coming for tricks or treats, yes? We are being raptors! It is nice to be invited into houses at this time of the year." They cannot help but take note of the decorations. "Oh, are you really having your first visitors? You have all of the humans' favourite ornaments, and they are nicely arranged! I must remember how you did it!"

They locate gum of various fruity scents among the candy. "Oh, look, candy for freshening breath! That is useful before meals. Do not worry, you will get used to being around the humans very quickly."

The raptorpire also picks up a piece of coconut-flavoured chocolate, before giving the figure a final dinosaur-screech and stalking away gleefully.