pyrokenisisnebby

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“I didn’t want to mention the asylum, I’d just trigger bad memories.” Nebby shakes her head.

“Well the Victorian one sorta mixes urban legend and real life murders like the Lizzie Borden axe murders.” Salem shrugs too.

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“Well the third is an asylum and the fourth is a classic Victorian horror house,” Nebby shrugged, “I got a map right here.” She pulled one out.

Alice stiffens as Nebby mentions the other two houses. “I – would prefer to skip the asylum one,” she says slowly. “I won’t stop anyone else going in, but…”

Victor rubs her shoulder. “I don’t think I want to see it either. The Victorian one sounds interesting, though.”

“I agree,” Whitford says. “I’d like to see what they’ve done with it. If it actually is like a house from our era.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Well the third is an asylum and the fourth is a classic Victorian horror house,” Nebby shrugged, “I got a map right here.” She pulled one out.

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“That’s usually a problem, you don’t know where to start!” Nebby exclaimed. “I like starting with some of the haunted houses, I think there’s four this year,” Ann observes, “Ooh, they’re doing one based on Urban Legends!”

“There’s one for classical movie monsters.” Salem points out.

“Huh, I think I’d want a candied apple…” Tim wondered aloud.

“Haunted house, then snacks?” Alice suggests. “So long as we haven’t all lost our appetites afterward.”

“There’s children here – the haunted houses can’t be that scary,” Victor says. He ticks options off on his fingers. “Urban legends, movie monsters…what are the other two? Is there a map or something we can get?”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“That’s usually a problem, you don’t know where to start!” Nebby exclaimed. “I like starting with some of the haunted houses, I think there’s four this year,” Ann observes, “Ooh, they’re doing one based on Urban Legends!”

“There’s one for classical movie monsters.” Salem points out.

“Huh, I think I’d want a candied apple...” Tim wondered aloud.

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With that being said, the group could now go on their merry way.

Thankfully the walk from Nebby’s house to the festival is short, and the festival itself is large and grand. She wasn’t kidding when she said Dallington loved Halloween; clearly they went all out!

Jack-O-Lanterns lit up the pathway as well as the festival, strings of lanterns and lights included. There were even some candles placed by some fake headstones, with witty epitaphs such as “Told you I was sick” and punny names like “Izzy Deadyet”. Excited children in groups, with the ever excited adult chaperone were also walking towards the direction of the festival, their costumes varied from ghouls to unicorns; some elaborate, some are what Nebby called “half-assed” But that’s normally reserved for older people.

The festival had at least 4 haunted house attractions, and it didn’t end there; added there was a Ferris wheel, mini roller coasters, carousel, the list goes on. And let’s not forget the midway games with prizes as big as an adult man, Ann pointed out a couple laughing and holding a gigantic vampire plush.

Victor, Alice, and Whitford are suitably agog at all this spectacle. “Goodness me…” Alice turns in a little circle as they reach the main grounds, taking it all in. “And I thought some of the carnivals in the East End could get elaborate.”

“Nothing compared to this,” Victor agrees, words muffled a bit by his fangs. “Whitford, have you ever seen anything like it?”

“No – of course, given my station, I didn’t usually go to carnivals,” Whitford admits. “My family was the kind to favor fancy balls…this all looks delightful, though! What should we do first?”

“Well, we could try to win a spare Victor,” Alice jokes, motioning to the pair with their vampire plush. “At least one of these games should suit our talents.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

With that being said, the group could now go on their merry way.

Thankfully the walk from Nebby’s house to the festival is short, and the festival itself is large and grand. She wasn’t kidding when she said Dallington loved Halloween; clearly they went all out!

Jack-O-Lanterns lit up the pathway as well as the festival, strings of lanterns and lights included. There were even some candles placed by some fake headstones, with witty epitaphs such as “Told you I was sick” and punny names like “Izzy Deadyet”. Excited children in groups, with the ever excited adult chaperone were also walking towards the direction of the festival, their costumes varied from ghouls to unicorns; some elaborate, some are what Nebby called “half-assed” But that’s normally reserved for older people.

The festival had at least 4 haunted house attractions, and it didn’t end there; added there was a Ferris wheel, mini roller coasters, carousel, the list goes on. And let’s not forget the midway games with prizes as big as an adult man, Ann pointed out a couple laughing and holding a gigantic vampire plush.

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“Oh I was, but fight or flight responses said otherwise,” Tim explained, “And it was apparently a weirdo breaking into houses.”

“I paid nearly $200 to repair my fucking window.” Nebby grumbled.

“Remind me never to startle you,” Alice says, eyeing Tim. “And I thought Victor’s elbows to the stomach were bad…”

“Well, hopefully this ‘weirdo’ has well learned his lesson and shan’t be bothering us this year,” Whitford says, taking out his handkerchief and lifting his mask to dab his face. “I’m in no mood to be harassed by creepy clowns.”

“Me either,” Victor nods. “I hope everyone was all right.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Oh I was, but fight or flight responses said otherwise,” Tim explained, “And it was apparently a weirdo breaking into houses.”

“I paid nearly $200 to repair my fucking window.” Nebby grumbled.

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“Oh, last year a clown broke into my house, and Tim threw him out a window.” Nebby explained. Tim cringed in the meantime, “I absolutely hate clowns! Their forever smiling face and laughter is always so unsettling!”

There’s a moment of silence. “I thought you were sick last year?” Victor finally asks Tim, teeth still in hand. “And you still threw a clown through a window?”

“Was it a burglar dressed as a clown?” Whitford asks, trying to wrap his head around why a clown would break into someone’s house.

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Oh, last year a clown broke into my house, and Tim threw him out a window.” Nebby explained. Tim cringed in the meantime, “I absolutely hate clowns! Their forever smiling face and laughter is always so unsettling!”

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“Didn’t she? She’s the best!” Salem squealed with delight. “Uh oh, someone’s fangirling.” Nebby teases. “Fuck you.” Salem punches her shoulder.

“Well, best not keep the festival waiting, and thank goodness, no creepy clowns this time.” Tim sighed.

“Let her fangirl,” Alice agrees, giving Nebby a poke. “It is incredible. Flora deserves the praise.”

“Creepy clowns?” Victor repeats, getting ready to pop his teeth in.

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Didn’t she? She’s the best!” Salem squealed with delight. “Uh oh, someone’s fangirling.” Nebby teases. “Fuck you.” Salem punches her shoulder.

“Well, best not keep the festival waiting, and thank goodness, no creepy clowns this time.” Tim sighed.

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“Layering, usually for some you’d need to remove pieces. But it can be triggered by pulling a string or two, Flora made this for me, she made sure it was one pull,” Ann explained, “And thank you, but really, all the credit should go to her. She’s not a renowned fashion designer for nothing.”

“You really put my La Llorona costume to shame, Annie. Good job!” Nebby grinned.

“So I suppose we’d have to ask her for the technical details,” Alice says, smiling. “Still, that is very impressive. She did an excellent job.”

“Very much so,” Victor nods. “Though, Nebby, your costume is great too! You certainly look appropriate for a night of spirits.”

“Quite ghostly,” Whitford agrees. “You’d terrify anyone back on my estate.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Layering, usually for some you’d need to remove pieces. But it can be triggered by pulling a string or two, Flora made this for me, she made sure it was one pull,” Ann explained, “And thank you, but really, all the credit should go to her. She’s not a renowned fashion designer for nothing.”

“You really put my La Llorona costume to shame, Annie. Good job!” Nebby grinned.

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“Now to wait on Ann.” Nebby leaned against the wall, give her a moment and…

“Wait! I’m coming, please don’t leave yet!” Ann’s voice came from upstairs, her costume had been left a surprise by everyone. Every year she comes up with a costume better than the last, and this year…

To say she looked like a maid was an understatement. Ann came down dressed like a scullery maid, no doubt if Nell Van Dort saw this she’d have a heart attack. Though, her shoes didn’t match the rest of the costume, looked too fancy.

Tim, who decided to go in a masquerade costume- complete with a bird-like mask and a short, velvet cape, stood by with a confused expression. “I thought you said you were going as…” but Tim was stopped by Nebby, who raised her hand at him. “Give her a moment.” She said.

“I wanted this reveal to be special.” Ann blushed, suddenly removing the scarf on her head to reveal a tiara, spinning around and pulling a string, the worn fabrics faded to reveal a long turquoise dress decorated with pink flowers; the dress exposed her shoulders, the trim beaded with lace and pearls, and the sleeves were well fitted with lovely tulle.

“Ah, so you’re Cinderella!” Salem, who’d decided to stick to the classic witch costume, clapped.

Whitford was glad to see Tim in a costume similar to his own – makes him feel like he sticks out less among the “spookier” members of this little group. Ann’s costume gives him pause for a moment – it’s certainly a well-done maid’s outfit, but what is with the shoes? And then she’s spinning and – “Oh my!” he gasps, suitably amazed at the transformation of the gown. “That is truly amazing, Ann! How did you pull that off?”

“I’d like to know myself,” Alice says, impressed. “I mean, I assume some bits of the dress turned themselves inside-out as you twirled…that is a lovely dress, by the by. That shade of blue is beautiful.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Now to wait on Ann.” Nebby leaned against the wall, give her a moment and...

“Wait! I’m coming, please don’t leave yet!” Ann’s voice came from upstairs, her costume had been left a surprise by everyone. Every year she comes up with a costume better than the last, and this year...

To say she looked like a maid was an understatement. Ann came down dressed like a scullery maid, no doubt if Nell Van Dort saw this she’d have a heart attack. Though, her shoes didn’t match the rest of the costume, looked too fancy.

Tim, who decided to go in a masquerade costume- complete with a bird-like mask and a short, velvet cape, stood by with a confused expression. “I thought you said you were going as...” but Tim was stopped by Nebby, who raised her hand at him. “Give her a moment.” She said.

“I wanted this reveal to be special.” Ann blushed, suddenly removing the scarf on her head to reveal a tiara, spinning around and pulling a string, the worn fabrics faded to reveal a long turquoise dress decorated with pink flowers; the dress exposed her shoulders, the trim beaded with lace and pearls, and the sleeves were well fitted with lovely tulle.

“Ah, so you’re Cinderella!” Salem, who’d decided to stick to the classic witch costume, clapped.

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Hallows Festival

Nebby pulled up the top of her outfit whilst looking at herself in the mirror; makeup on point, costume well fitted, and comfortable shoes on. Looks like that’s everything.

“Alright, who’s ready for Dallington’s 370th annual Halloween Festival?” She grinned.

“I think we are,” Victor says, grinning back. He’s dressed in pretty classic evening wear, accented with a red-lined cape. If that didn’t make what he’s going as obvious enough, he’s got a set of fake fangs in his hand – they’ll be going in his mouth soon enough, but they do make it a bit hard to talk, so he’s keeping them out for the moment.

“It’s very kind of you to invite us to the festivities,” Alice agrees. Her costume is at once more complex and much more simple than Victor’s – she’s in her Hysteria Mode outfit, completely with white dress and bloodied face and hands. However, the whole look is a clever illusion – being able to cast a disguise spell without cost has its advantages.

“Yes,” nods Whitford, because of course he’s here too. Ann had suggested he drop by on his first visit to this odd place, after all. He’s looking forward to seeing her again. And seeing what a Halloween party looks like in this era. He’s grabbed an old masquerade ball costume for himself – brown suit with matching gloves, a puffball tail on the trousers, and a elegant brown mask covered in soft brown fuzz, with two long rabbit ears sticking up from the top. “Ever since Ann told me about how important Halloween is to this place, I’ve been looking forward to seeing the festival in person.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

Hallows Festival

Nebby pulled up the top of her outfit whilst looking at herself in the mirror; makeup on point, costume well fitted, and comfortable shoes on. Looks like that’s everything.

“Alright, who’s ready for Dallington’s 370th annual Halloween Festival?” She grinned.

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Please, don’t pick it up, it’s an absolute brain melter.” Ann warns. “Well if it’s that bad, to a point where you had to throw it into the fire, then I’ll take serious precaution.” Tim cringes, “I wouldn’t want to know more of the contents.”

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“I don’t know, I never finished the book.” Ann admits, “I couldn’t take it anymore and I threw it into my fireplace…”

“Wow.” Nebby is trying her darnedest not to burst out laughing, “That bad?”

“Yes, I couldn’t handle the poor grammar, terrible characterization, and insane metaphors,” Ann nods, getting visibly upset, “it was just so bad I didn’t think it was worth finishing. And vampires sparkling? Really? He’s a vampire not some sort of shiny chandelier!”

“Seriously?” Lizzie snorts, pressing a hand against her mouth to hold in her shock and amusement. “Oh dear – I once tossed a particularly bad book across the room before, but never into the fire! These books must be utterly horrible – which, perversely, makes me want to seek them out.”

“Same here,” Alice confesses. “Perhaps we could take turns reading the worst passages out to each other.”

“Maybe we could find some of the ‘best’ bits somewhere else instead of subjecting ourselves to the whole book,” Victor suggests. “And having to read things that would just upset us.”

Lizzie frowns. “True – I don’t think I’d like reading the entirety of Fifty Shades,” she admits. “I’d want to do horrible things to the supposed love interest too often.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“I don’t know, I never finished the book.” Ann admits, “I couldn’t take it anymore and I threw it into my fireplace...”

“Wow.” Nebby is trying her darnedest not to burst out laughing, “That bad?”

“Yes, I couldn’t handle the poor grammar, terrible characterization, and insane metaphors,” Ann nods, getting visibly upset, “it was just so bad I didn’t think it was worth finishing. And vampires sparkling? Really? He’s a vampire not some sort of shiny chandelier!”

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Ann took a deep breath, “Oh Dear…well for starters, none of the characters are good. The protagonist herself is a liar and manipulator who constantly toys with the feelings of the werewolf character, essentially a bland tease of the worst variety. The vampire is also dull and get this, he sparkles in the sunlight.” Winston grasped Tim’s wrist at the last second, “Hang on there, sweetheart. Don’t go on giving yourself another concussion because of stupidity.” Tim in the meantime is struggling, “I can’t resist! It’s too facepalm worthy!”

“Oh, BDSM is basically a variety of often erotic practices like submission, bondage, and sadomasochism- basic kinky shit,” Nebby lists off, “It sounds terrible but it’s meant to be consensual and a lot of fun for all participants. What Annie meant is that the supposed love interest in Fifty Shades initially forces the protagonist to partake in these practices via illegal contract. It’s a terrible read, plus as an added bonus, it’s pretty much Twilight fanfiction. I’m not joking.”

Lizzie’s face darkens at the word “tease,” and it’s on the tip of her tongue to ask just who’s calling the girl that – then Alice grabs her arm and murmurs, “Fictional character, Lizzie,” and she relaxes a tad. Right. They’re talking about someone not real, in a book she has never read. “Tease” might be the perfect way to describe her. Still, Lizzie would have preferred a different word. That one has way too much history attached to it for her to feel comfortable.

Fortunately, the comment about the vampire sparkling serves as sufficient distraction. “What – like – really?” Lizzie asks, blinking. “I don’t know my vampire stories as well as I should, but – that’s not common, I don’t think.”

“It isn’t,” Victor says, looking rather baffled himself. “Varney certainly never sparkled.”

And then Nebby defines BDSM, and everything is awkward again. Especially when she adds that the protagonist of Fifty Shades is forced into it by her love interest. “How disgusting,” Lizzie spits. “The things some people will …she kills him at the end the book, I hope?” She doesn’t have much hope, given how much contempt Nebby and Ann have for said book, but still.

“I assume it’s the girl and the vampire from the previous book then, doing – that,” Alice says, fidgeting. Trying to lighten the mood, she adds, “Does he still sparkle?”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

Ann took a deep breath, “Oh Dear...well for starters, none of the characters are good. The protagonist herself is a liar and manipulator who constantly toys with the feelings of the werewolf character, essentially a bland tease of the worst variety. The vampire is also dull and get this, he sparkles in the sunlight.” Winston grasped Tim’s wrist at the last second, “Hang on there, sweetheart. Don’t go on giving yourself another concussion because of stupidity.” Tim in the meantime is struggling, “I can’t resist! It’s too facepalm worthy!”

“Oh, BDSM is basically a variety of often erotic practices like submission, bondage, and sadomasochism- basic kinky shit,” Nebby lists off, “It sounds terrible but it’s meant to be consensual and a lot of fun for all participants. What Annie meant is that the supposed love interest in Fifty Shades initially forces the protagonist to partake in these practices via illegal contract. It’s a terrible read, plus as an added bonus, it’s pretty much Twilight fanfiction. I’m not joking.”

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“Trust me, there are some really stupid books you’d need to check out like ‘My Side of the Mountain’.” Nebby groans, “I swear, the narrative is just so uninspired and dull that it put me to sleep! And good luck trying to understand the characters, they’re about as three dimensional as sandpaper.”

“You want to talk bad books? Then look no further than Fifty Shades of Grey or Twilight.” Ann objects, “Twilight is pretty much a dull love triangle between a human girl, a vampire, and a werewolf. And unfortunately it falls under many cliches and the protagonist herself is too dependent on her love interests to think for herself. Then Fifty Shades pretty much takes a similar concept of a weak female protagonist falling hard for a guy, but it’s instead a millionaire who frequently has her partake in BDSM, and it’s not even a clear or positive representation of people who enjoy it. It’s just a mess…” Tim blinked at that, “Wow, that was incredibly passionate.” Ann then blushed, “Well, when I had time I sat down to read it, my coworker kept giving it such positive attention I just had to check it out.”

“Perhaps I’ll put it on my list for nights when I have insomnia,” Lizzie says with a smirk. “Honestly, I’ve always believed a boring book is worse than a bad book. With the latter, you still get the feeling there was effort involved, at least.”

“If very poorly directed effort,” Alice replies, before looking over at Ann as she rants about Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey. “How on earth do you make a dull love triangle out of a vampire and a werewolf fighting over the same girl? Even if the girl is nothing to write home about, surely the vampire or the werewolf would be interesting.”

“What the heck’s BDSM?” Sam adds, puzzled. “Never heard that before.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Trust me, there are some really stupid books you’d need to check out like ‘My Side of the Mountain’.” Nebby groans, “I swear, the narrative is just so uninspired and dull that it put me to sleep! And good luck trying to understand the characters, they’re about as three dimensional as sandpaper.”

“You want to talk bad books? Then look no further than Fifty Shades of Grey or Twilight.” Ann objects, “Twilight is pretty much a dull love triangle between a human girl, a vampire, and a werewolf. And unfortunately it falls under many cliches and the protagonist herself is too dependent on her love interests to think for herself. Then Fifty Shades pretty much takes a similar concept of a weak female protagonist falling hard for a guy, but it’s instead a millionaire who frequently has her partake in BDSM, and it’s not even a clear or positive representation of people who enjoy it. It’s just a mess...” Tim blinked at that, “Wow, that was incredibly passionate.” Ann then blushed, “Well, when I had time I sat down to read it, my coworker kept giving it such positive attention I just had to check it out.”

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“We like watching bad movies and making equally bad commentary over it. But at that occasion I couldn’t handle the sheer stupidity that the commentary basically wrote itself.” She pinched her temples.

“You – like watching bad movies,” Victor repeats.

“It’s not much different from reading a bad book just to see what new depths of stupidity it plumbs,” Alice points out. “Sometimes you simply can’t look away.”

“And other times it’s entertaining to see just how ridiculous a plot can get,” Lizzie agrees. “Though this one sounds like it got a little too nonsensical. You’ve got to get it at the exact right level.”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“We like watching bad movies and making equally bad commentary over it. But at that occasion I couldn’t handle the sheer stupidity that the commentary basically wrote itself.” She pinched her temples.

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They all ranged from “Get me the fuck out of here this movie sucks” to “For fucks sake”, the usual Nebby brand aggression.

But it gets better, it then goes on to rant about the director’s apparent stupidity and making jabs at the movie and monsters.

“Ah – quite the rage right from the very beginning,” Alice comments, chuckling over Nebby’s furious words on the screen. “I don’t blame you, though – the movie does sound incredibly stupid.”

“Why on earth did Salem make you watch them if they’re this bad?” Victor has to ask. “Did she just want to see you get all worked up like this?”

[pyrokenisisnebby]

They all ranged from “Get me the fuck out of here this movie sucks” to “For fucks sake”, the usual Nebby brand aggression.

But it gets better, it then goes on to rant about the director’s apparent stupidity and making jabs at the movie and monsters.

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“Oh! I do have the texts,” Ann says as she brings out her phone, “I just need to scroll up, please give me a moment.” Once she had it, she passed the phone over to Alice.

Alice snorts. “You actually saved them? Oh dear, they must be good.” She accepts the phone once Ann’s gotten to the right spot and starts to read. Victor, Lizzie, and Sam all crane their heads for a look as well.

[pyrokenisisnebby]

“Oh! I do have the texts,” Ann says as she brings out her phone, “I just need to scroll up, please give me a moment.” Once she had it, she passed the phone over to Alice.

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“Good fucking god, Salem made me sit down to watch them. I love her and all, but I’m never gonna forgive her for that.” Nebby rubs her temples, “Annie can vouch for me.”

To which she nods, “She had send me loads of texts in succession detailing her opinions on each movie.”

“That must have been an interesting day,” Alice says, amused. “Especially as I’m sure they got more profanity-laden with each sequel, if they’re as bad as she says.”