"We're here for Trick or Treating!"

[Gelquie]

You're walking around the neighborhood, minding your own business, doing everything your power to ensure you have no contact with others. Maybe because of what's going on right now, maybe because you just don't want to talk to anyone in general.

As you walk by Gelquie's house, you find it... filled to the brim with Halloween decorations. Complete with fake bats, real bats, jack-o-lanterns, ghostly jack-o-lanterns, and full of... spirits? Oh, and you think you hear someone knocking and screaming on the other end of the house.

A ghostly being opens a window. "Oh, Gertrude, finally! Some trick-or-treaters!"

"Seriously, Ethel, we came all the way from the spirit world, and it's like no one's expecting it or into it!"

"I know, right? We rented this house and everything! And even the owner seems upset about it! I mean, we have the receipts right here! And the spirit portal took us right here, everything prepared!"

"Unbelievable. I'm going to leave a very poor review."

"You get writing, Gertrude! You tell 'em!" The Ethel-ghost turns to look at you. "Sorry about that. We're having some technical difficulties. We don't know why no one's being festive! But anyway, don't worry, we're open to Trick-or-Treating! And such wonderful costumes you have! And everyone. I really love how you're all doing the Soft Apocalypse theme, really nice. I think between that and the small traffic, I'll give you all extra treats!"

Gertrude briefly pokes her ethereal head out the window. "Oh, and don't worry, whatever thing you're hiding from, it's not here. We're literally ghosts. Also, our rent-ee got one thing right by cleaning the whole house before our arrival. And also putting at magical plague barriers to ensure nothing enters. A little overkill for us spirits, but nice. Maybe I'll give them two stars for that."

("I'M GONNA CALL THE OTHER ADMINS!!" shouts a familiar voice from behind the house. Following comes the sound of someone banging on the walls.)

Ethel pipes in. "But just in case! We've left the Trick or Treat bowl on the porch, in case you want to just take your treats and go! But we so seldom come from the spirit world, just once every Halloween! So we like to take advantage every Halloween. Just let us know if you'd like to make yourselves at home!"

You look upon the porch and see... treats. You can see that they tried to do some homemade treats. But... you're not sure how long they've been there? They seemed to have formed their own culture. And in some cases, formed their own counterculture, making sure their looks stand out. They don't seem sentient otherwise, though. And they... probably...? Won't kill you. Do you take a treat? Chat up the ghosts? Something else?

SPOILER: Click to show

Happy belated April Fools!

Because this is late, I'll probably keep this up for a few days for your timely Trick-or-Treating pleasure before I finally evict these inconsiderate ghosts from my house, *mumble grumble, how did they even get in.* >> For now, this will be treated as I do all my Trick-or-Treat houses. Have fun!

[June Scarlet]

A Cybunny waves at the Spirits. "Hullo! I'm Saskori, I'm a monster tamer! Though it doesn't look like there's any taming needed here!"

(Is that Gelquie disagreeing with Saskori? Probably not.)

Saskori looks at the treats. "These are lovely, may I have one?"

[Gelquie]

June Scarlet -

A voice from behind the house shouts: "NO THEY MAY NOT BE MONSTERS BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF TAMING TO BE DONE HERE!"

"SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!" shouts Gertrude.

Ethel looks down and beams. "Of course you may! You may take one or two, as you wish! Oh, don't mind the approaching you, that's just magic, they're not actually sentient."

With that, some pumpkin... you assume it's shortbread? With hair-like features that you hope is icing. Anyway, it approaches you, bows, and allows you to take it.

"Oh, and don't worry if you don't like pumpkin, I've got all sorts here. Butterscotch, even gingerbread, you name it! Just go ahead and grab another!"

[June Scarlet]

"Not sentient?" Saskori seems almost disappointed. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the magic, I just got all excited there for a minute, thinking that the treats had gotten alive and needed taming. That happens to food in the Haunted Woods sometimes. I have some marshmallows I keep as pets."

"Also, apparently there is taming to be done here?" says Saskori to the Spirits. "Need me to do something about that voice from behind the house?"

[Gelquie]

June Scarlet

"Well, I guess what Gertrude and I were thinking is that we didn't want the treats to be alive just so they could be eaten alive!" Ethel pipes up. "It just didn't feel right! Besides, Gertrude spent so much time making the treats, it'd be a pity if no one tried them! So I made my magic just allow them to move and do some things!"

The treat below, with its "hair" in a very questionable state, waves once again.

Gertrude looks up from what she's doing and looks out. "Ah yes, could you do something about that being? I'll be writing them a full scathing review as is, but at present, they're being completely unreasonable and very distracting."

"OH I'M UNREASONABLE?? IT'S MY HOUSE!" came the voice. You think the voice came from the other side of the house.

"And you'll get it back when Halloween is over, as promised, have some patience!!" Gertrude shouts back. "Anyway, sorry. If you or someone could just get them off our backs for a little bit while I try to write my letter and Ethel can give a good atmosphere for our trick-or-treaters, I'll be very grateful."

[June Scarlet]

"Well, it's very well done magic at that," says Saskori. "Look at how the little thing just waved again, it's just adorable."

"And I'll see what I can do about that distracting being."

Saskori moves past the pair of spirits and into the house, heading towards where she thought she heard the yelling voice. When she gets close, she says, "You know, you're pretty lucky here, actually. It's not everyone that gets such nice visitors to their house. Not all spirits are as friendly as these ones."

[Sparktater]

A Faerie Xweetok sniffs the air excitedly. Permanently on a sugar high no thanks to the constant supply of sweet treats baked by her two brothers, she can sniff out sugar a mile away. "Candy!!" she yells at her sibling who is attempting to follow her. "Look! More trick and treating! This time I bet they'll give out the full size bars!"

A Chocolate Draik came up behind and gazed at the house. "They really pulled out all the stops with this one, Cesdre! They even have one of those spooky sound tapes."

"I don't know, Papadoni. I think it's a real haunted house. I know, cause we lived in one when I was just born. Hey, look!" she exclaimed, as she reached out to the bowl, "They have jellybeans! I love jellybeans!"

The Xweetok stopped for a moment and focused. "Hold on. I'm sensing something." She turns to the Draik, looking worried. "I don't think you should have come with me. This isn't just a haunted house. I think we should take the candy and run."

Papadoni nodded his head and approached the bowl carefully. He had just leant down to grab some when the house spoke.

[Liou]

Down the mostly-empty street comes running an odd form, with what can only be a sheet draped over its top half in the style of a classic sheet ghost, but with a long pair of legs sticking out beneath.

Rather fit legs, too, which is probably thanks to the way the figure is jogging, with a headband wrapped around the top part of the sheet ghost.

They strut up to the house in their fashionable leggings, lowering the volume of the macabre music in their headphones.

"That's such a nice rental you've got here! Love what you're doing with the place. Mind if I take a picture for Spookstagram?"

[Gelquie]

((This is fun, so I'll probably keep this up for a bit longer. ^^ ))

June Scarlet

"Aw, thank you so much!" Ethel says.

"Yes, thank you indeed," Gertrude sincerely concurs.

Saskori makes her way to the other side of the house, and once there, she sees a cloaked being that may or may not be familiar to her as one of the personifications of Gelquie, who seems to be hard at work coming up with both magic and mundane methods to break into the back entrance of the house. They huff.

"Well, maybe they're friendly to you, but I'm the one locked out of my own house just because they got the date wrong. Can't call that very friendly. Yes, I did let them rent the place, but for Halloween. Does this look like Halloween to you?"

They grumble. "At least they're not tearing the place up, but I want in. And for them to stop giving out treats that look like they're far past the expiration date. I don't want to make anyone sick! Do they even know they're expired?"

--
Sparktater

The ghosts look down at the approaching beings. "Oh finally, someone in the spirit of things, Gertrude!"

"Wait, seriously?" Gertrude looks out the window. "Ha! I knew we were right!"

Ethel calls down. "Don't worry, we may be haunting the place, but that doesn't mean anything here will harm you! Go ahead and take a treat, though. We worked hard on the jellybean-type recipe, I hope you enjoy it! Anyway, if you really don't want to stay, thanks for stopping by! Love your fae and chocolate oufits, by the way!"

--
Liou

Ethel claps their hands. "Ah, yes, another one in the spirit of things!"

"Well, half spirit, half..." Gertrude stares. "Stylish and captivating..."

"Gertrude!!" Ethel laughs. "But no, you're absolutely right." Ethel looks down at the visitor. "Thank you so much! We worked really hard on it. Absolutely you can take a picture. Gertrude and I worked really hard on it, so by all means! Love the outfit and music, by the way."

[June Scarlet]

Saskori regards the Gelquie. "Did you try the front door? Or have you just been yelling at them from back here the whole time?"

"No wait," says Saskori, "I have a better idea. You should disguise yourself as a trick-or-treater, and then you can gain access to your house from the front door!"

[Gelquie]

June Scarlet

"Of course I've tried the front door, all the entrances are locked. Even the... Well, never you mind those."

Gelquie considers the idea. "...Hmm... you know, I like that! I'll just have to pretend to like these ghosts long enough... yeah, that could work. Thanks, Cybunny!"

They head off, then pause and look over their shoulder. "I guess it'll take me some time so... tell them whatever you want. Except that I'm doing this, of course."

((Unless someone stops them on the way out, Gelquie will return in 24 hours. Depending on activity, it could be the climax or the finale.))

[June Scarlet]

Saskori heads 'round to the front of the house again. "Good news! I think I've managed to quiet things down for you. Now you can really enjoy your night!"

"Only one thing. I'm a bit confused. What is today, anyway? I'm getting mixed signals. I don't usually keep track of dates, so I'm not sure. I've heard it's Halloween, I've heard it's not Halloween. I'm not sure."

[Gelquie]

"Oh, thank goodness!" cried out Gertrude. "I thought they'd never leave! I'm still writing that angry letter. I've got some choice words here!"

Ethel raised an eyebrow. "Why it's Halloween, of course! Why else would we be here? We're only able to come here at that time, after all! I mean, unless someone summons us otherwise."

"But we're not considered that important. We were never important in life."

"We were (and are) important to each other and our community, and that's all that mattered to us," Ethel said with a smile.

"How sweet," came a voice. "And trick or treat!"

A figure comes up, wearing what looks to be a nebula sheet ghost outfit... Or a bootleg one. It looks like a blanket strung together with old tie-dye, with the white parts dyed black.

"Ah another one, welcome!" Ethel proclaims, oblivious, before giving them the same introduction as the others.

The "nebula" feigns a thinking expression. "Hm, yes. It is such an opportunity isn't it? And your treats look... delicious. But I think I'd rather talk to you and absolutely make myself at home."

"That's the spirit!!" Ethel proclaims.

_{"Oh, that was bad,"} Gertrude whispered with a snerk.

Ethel moves downstairs (very efficiently, given their ghostly nature) and opens the door. "Come on in! We have spectral lemonade! And we have an order of ghostly teas from a very unique shop! You've not had tea till you've tried it!"

"...Yes... indeed..."

The "nebula" moves in, and the door shuts...


((What will happen? You'll have to see in another post! Which will probably be up by the next day my time. Which will be the last post. This is your last chance to wrap up if you want to!))

[June Scarlet]

Saskori nods. "Halloween, got it. Well, in that case, a very happy Halloween to you both."

[Gelquie]

"Happy Halloween to you too!" Ethel calls out before shutting the door properly.

"Now," they say to Gelquie. "What would you like?"

"I'd like..." the "nebula ghost" throws back their sheet. "To get my house back."

Ethel jumps with a start. "G-gertrude! Our renter!"

Gertrude hurries downstairs. "Oh, what the- We had a deal! You said you'd let us have the house for Halloween night. We paid and everything! If you were just missing something, all you had to do was tell us!"

"Hallowhat are you talking about? It's not Halloween!" Gelquie argues.

"We've had trick-or-treaters, haven't we?" Ethel said.

"Well, I... I don't know what that's about."

"And we appeared on this side of the veil," Gertrude pointed out.

"And I have no idea why that may be. It's April. Didn't the warm air tip you off?"

Ethel and Gertrude stare at each other for a moment. "...This is warm to you?"

"Nevermind. It is April, and our contract was for Halloween. You didn't show up. I had to host something at a park."

Gertrude blinks. "How... is that possible? We thought the veil would take us over 'when the time is right,' as it says in your contract. And it opens on Halloween."

Gelquie sighs. "Well, it's not Halloween. I don't know what the veil is up to, I mean, c'mon, it's April first-"

There is a long, uncomfortable silence.

"Oh, gosh dangit," cries the trio.

"Oh no wonder they weren't taking my treats! They can't last 5 months like that!"

"I'm surprised you didn't notice," Gelquie says bluntly.

"I was busy writing you an angry letter. We did have an agreement," Gertrude points out.

"But not for this timeframe-" Gelquie pauses. And they take a moment to look around. They... did do a good job with the house. And while these ghosts may have been unaware, things have been rather tense, lately. While trick-or-treaters certainly weren't expected, the fact that at least a few showed up meant they must have wanted this in some form. It didn't... hurt. ...If they didn't eat the treats.

And it did get Gelquie out of the house.

"...Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I can see this wasn't your fault," Gelquie admitted.

"...We're sorry too," Ethel says.
"The contract did say for Halloween," Gertrude permitted.
"Getting thrown out like that must've been quite a shock."

Gelquie sighs. "Yeah, a little bit!"

"Look, bygones be bygones? We won't kick you out of your own house," Gertrude says.

"Our treats may not be good, but the lemonade and tea kept well!" Ethel offers. "Would you like to have them? We should be fading away at midnight or whenever, but we can give you some, and maybe find a way to leave some."

"...Yeah. Yeah, I think I would."

The beings then go to the kitchen to sample the goods, and try to make the most of this fortunate mix-up.


((Thank you for participating/reading!))