#trick or treat event 2020

[jasperygrace]

trick or treat >:)

Treat!!

I've been going through a lot of the early developmental work for the project and I just want to show you what Vinnie looked like in his first illustration vs. his most recent:

Vinnie certainly didn't have the roughest transition to his current iteration, but he certainly had the most varied.

The reward for roughest transition still goes to Reese.

[disneytva]

"An Almost Christmas Story" New Disney Television Animation Animated Holiday Stop-Motion Short Directed By David Lowery And Produced By Academy Award-Winner Alfonso Cuarón, Coming To Disney+ This November.

Disney Branded Television announced a new Disney Television Animation animated stop-motion short film “An Almost Christmas Story” slated for a November release date on Disney+.

The musical short produced by Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Animation and Cuarón’s Esperanto Filmoj, in association with Titmouse and Maere Studios, and with animation services by 88 Pictures. "An Almost Christmas Story" is the first original short from Disney Television Animation since "Hamburger High" (2016). It joins Disney TVA's roster of stop-motion projects ("Mickey Mouse and the Magical Snowy Holiday", "Mickey Saves Christmas", "Mickey And Friends: Trick or Treats", Mickey's Christmas Tales" and "Rhona Who Lives By The River")

The celebrated creative team includes David Lowery (director, screenplay and producer), Cuarón (producer and story), Gabriela Rodríguez (producer), Jack Thorne (story and screenplay), Nicholas Ashe Bateman (creative designer) and Daniel Hart (composer).

 "An Almost Christmas Story" follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents. “An Almost Christmas Story” is inspired by the true events of a tiny owl, Rocky - short for Rockefeller, found and rescued from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020.

An Almost Christmas Story features the voice talents of Cary Christopher (FX "American Horror Story") as Moon, newcomer Estella Madrigal as “Luna,” Jim Gaffigan (Pixar Animation Studios "Luca") as “Papa Owl, Mamoudou Athie (Pixar Animation Studios "Elemental") as Pelly, Alex Ross Perry (Walt Disney Studios "Christopher Robin") as Dave The Dog, Gianna Joseph ("Star Trek Into Darkness") as Peaky, Phil Rosenthal ("Everybody Loves Raymond") as Punt, Natasha Lyonne (Cartoon Network Studios "Steven Universe" franchise) as Pat and John C. Reilly (Walt Disney Animation Studios "Wreck It Ralph" franchise) as The Folk Singer.

An Almost Christmas Story features a live orchestra score by Daniel Hart (Walt Disney Studios "Peter Pan & Wendy"), the short features 2 brand new original songs by John C. Reilly.

An original album featuring the songs and score of the short by Walt Disney Records will release on November 2024.

[astaldis]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers (except me because obvs I have done it). Spread the self-love ❤

Thank you very much for the ask, @valandhirwriter!

This is a really tough question, it's almost like having to decide whether I love my son or my daughter more 🙈, impossible. But maybe some fics are a bit special for other reasons.

So, here they are: Let's start with the fic that brought me back into writing fanfic after more than 15 years of neither writing nor reading any at all, my very first Witcher fic:

Ashes to Ashes:

At the end of the Battle of Sodden Hill, a distressed Cahir looks at the burning forest. (Published: 2020-10-12; Words: 417; Chapters: 1/1). (I'm a bit proud of it, too, because it has some nice alliterations and other stylistic devices, I think)

This here is my longest fic so far, although it was supposed to have only 5 chapters. Then along came a couple of nice prompt events and it ended up with 18 🙈:

To kill or not to kill

On Thanedd Ciri is cornered by the black knight of her nightmares. And really wants to kill the man who, in her mind, is responsible for all the bad things that have happened to her, for everything she has lost. Wants to shove her sword through his throat until his feathers are soaked in blood...

This is the story of how Cahir comes to join Geralt's company (Cahir's POV, mix of books and S1-2 of the Netflix series, spoilers for Baptism of Fire, might have spoilers for S4, Published: 2022-08-05; Completed: 2023-04-08; Words: 58,316; Chapters: 18/18)

And the first ever fic I wrote for a prompt event, the Witcher Trick or Treat 2022. I was pretty proud that I managed to use all 11 prompts in one story in the correct order of the prompts and on the precise day. It was a lot of fun to write with some humour, a little whump, a pinch of smut and a scary monster song by our favourite bard:

Creatures of the Night

While Geralt's Hanza is staying in Beauclair, the famous fall event is coming up. An event the Witcher cannot refuse to take part in, even though he does have to dress up for it. However, not everything goes as planned and the members of the Hanza are in for some surprises. Blame it on the grape punch. Or is it the bard's fault after all? (Published: 2022-10-01; Completed: 2022-11-11; Words: 22,898; Chapters: 14/14)

Another first, my very first smut fic. No idea if it's any good, but I like it - well, it's Jaskier/Mermaid 🧜‍♀️ 🌊 😅.

Shimmering Scales and Stormy Seas

This is the story of Jaskier's first time. Decide yourself if it is true or just a tall tale. (Published: 2023-05-13; Words: 800; Chapters: 1/1)

Last but not least, there is my first crack fic. The little plot bunny came to me in the middle of the night, no idea where from. I find it pretty funny:

What?!

During their stay at Beauclair Castle, Geralt's Hansa play a game of cards. It soon turns out that not all the Hansa members enjoy it equally much, although Regis claims that it is both entertaining and enlightening. At least, Angoulême is having fun. (Published: 2023-02-26; Words: 1,125; Chapters: 1/1)

Other stories are also special for the one or other reason, but, alas, it's already 5. So, this is it for today. Have fun reading!

[tfrarepairing]

GREETINGS GENTLEBEINGS!! AFTER THE SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR’S EVENT, THE TRANSFORMERS RARE PAIRING COMMUNITY IS PLEASED TO PRESENT:

RARE PAIRING FEST 2022!!

Rare Pairing Fest is a now-annual event we host, with the goal of getting more of our favorite rare pair content out into the universe! Like last year, we’re going to use the new format, instead of the the 2020 and prior years format! Used to, we’d pull old prompts from the weekly request posts and put them back up again, but this year we’re bringing new prompts and you all will attach YOUR favorite rare pairs to them!

This year’s event will run from October 16-29, 2022! There will be 28 prompts (two for each day) with seasonal themes. 

The prompt list is broken down by day, and posted below. You create your work and then post to Twitter, Tumblr, Dreamwidth and/or Pillowfort on the correct day. All participants will get a participation graphic, and anyone who makes a fill for all 14 days will get a special prize! There are no minimums or maximums for this event and ALL content types are accepted (including photos & hand crafts!) Also, all ratings are accepted, but please tag appropriately! And don’t forget the #2022TFRarePairingFest tag! ALSO, if you’re participating in another event (Inktober, LLFest, etc) please feel free to double dip your pieces! (No one has enough time in the day to create two or three or more pieces and Mod eerian will never expect you to!) 

Now, the prompts:

October 16: Hot Drink // Leftovers

October 17: Feeling Groovy // Feeling Emotional

October 18: Date Night // Staying Home

October 19: Board Games // Live Performance

October 20: Falling Leaves // New Sprouts

October 21: Bad Weather // Cloudless Skies

October 22: Star Filled Night // Painted Sunrise

October 23: Scary Stories // Happy Endings

October 24: Old Holidays // New Traditions

October 25: Pirates // Ninjas

October 26: Ghosts // Newly Born

October 27: Grave Robbing // History in the Making

October 28: Horror // Fantasy

October 29: Trick // Treat

[burningexeter]

[HEADCANON/FAN THEORY]

The Venture Bros. and its finale movie Radiant Is The Blood Of The Baboon Heart takes place in the same large shared universe as many other media ranging from movies, TV shows and video games that deal with several different types of unconventional protagonists and ensembles not just facing the odds but fighting against the highest stakes ever imaginable with Venture Bros. occurring over the course of 2016 to 2018 thanks to a certain prediction that Dr. Orpheus made coming true with Action Man at the end of the Morphos Trilogy.

In Chronological Order:

• Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal

• Far Cry Primal

• Clash Of The Titans (1981)

• Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

• Apocalypto

• Wolfwalkers

• Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy

• The Mask Of Zorro

• Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes Duology

• Deathwatch (2002)

• The Mummy (1999)

• Where Eagles Dare

• Overlord (2018)

• Inglourious Basterds

• The Exorcist (1973)

• Exorcist III: Legion (1990)

• The Nice Guys

• Thief (1981)

• Big Trouble In Little China

• Tales From The Crypt Presents Demon Knight

• Heat (1995)

• Blade (1998) and Blade II

• Trick r Treat

• Breaking Bad Trilogy

• Sons Of Anarchy Duology

• Alan Wake (2010) and Alan Wake II

• Attack On Titan (the first two seasons)

• Krampus

• Control (2019)

• The Invisible Man (2020)

• Wrath Of Man (2021)

• Wildwood (2025)

• Upgrade (2018)

and finally

• The DOOM Series (1993 OG, Hell On Earth, 3, 64, 2016 and Eternal)

Notes/Details/Trivia:

• Whatever you don't see here, it ain't canon here to help streamline things and better yet help keep the quality consistent. Then again, Blade Trinity and The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor not being canon isn't a bad thing at all really.

• This universe, even though it's headcanon just for fun, explores the multiple different perspectives to this world with their own different and distinct tones, styles and aesthetics cause that's part of the fun. You can have something that's huge in scale, insane and fantastical but cynical like The Venture Bros. but you can also have something that's dark, grounded and gritty like Breaking Bad.

• Another thing that helps connect them all including The Venture Bros. is that no matter how epic, insane, violent, out-of-control etc. as they all get, they always remain either somewhat grounded or grounded to some degree.

• It all culminates into the events of the DOOM series, serving as I guess what you would say is the Infinity War and Endgame to this universe with the Doom Slayer being the last one standing to finally put an end to this all that started way back in the prehistoric ages with Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal.

• Now this should be an interesting take to anyone who reads this - if they are all in the same insane universe with the highest body count ever than what, does Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes know any of the heroes and villains of The Venture Bros. or does Jesse Faden know Walter White? To answer that, the answer is a very painfully obvious "No".... BUT EZ knows OF the heroes and villains of The Venture Bros. because they're all famous like how he knows of Brad Pitt, George Clooney or Angelina Jolie cause they're famous while Jesse Faden knows OF Walter White because he's infamous like how she knows of Pablo Escobar, the Unabomber or Osama Bin Laden because they're infamous.

• Now last but not least, with the first two (and BEST) seasons of Attack On Titan being the only canon things here with it, you're probably wondering with the series finale on its way how does it end in the Venture Bros. Universe if that's what we're calling it?

Well here's how it ends in this universe —

It ends with Mikasa Ackerman and Historia Reiss, now an official romantic couple, looking out into the sunset on the beach shore and what they say to each other in that awesome fanart from Larkei are the final lines of the series.

Oh, and the Funimation English Dub is the canon version because it's way too good to not be.

[smallumbrella369]

Fic Writing Review

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either.

Thanks for tagging me @flowertrigger .💐

Life was stupidly lifey in 2023. I literally posted one fic this year. So I’m only vaguely complying with the rules here.  

Words and Fics

Total Word count: 158,583

Fandom: Schitt's Creek (forever my heart)

First fic posted: Music Moves Him

Last fic posted: David Rose: Style Consultant

Shortest fic: Quick and Dirty (498 words)

Longest fic: My heart is like paper (yours is like a flame) (56,156)

Random acts of posting

For about 5 minutes, I considered getting into recording podfics. The process is a lot more complicated than my brain wanted to engage with, so here’s my one and only recording. Just 263 words in under 2 minutes. All credit goes to Missgeevious. (@missgeevious)

Freckles

Fandom Fic Events 

In October 2020 I wrote Stranded for the SC Trick or Treat Collection

In March 2021 I wrote BDE (Big Dick Energy ) for My Eyes Are Up Here

Both of these events were great fun to participate in and yielded excellent stories from everyone. Go check them out! 

Projects for 2024

This is my list of my wips that I’d like to compete.

Fake boyfriend 

The fic /fic: An epistolary

bookstore/5+1- a new idea (because why not add to the list?)

Joshua Tree- AU-  An unfinished! 60K monstrosity that should probably be 45K tops, but has gotten way out of hand and way in my head and may never see the light of day. So… there’s that. 

@missgeevious @mostlyinthemorning @delilah-mcmuffin @madlori

@apothecarose @apothecarypants @five678patty @jesuisici33 @ramonaflow @jamilas-pen @chelle-68

Anyone who'd like to play, please do. I'm so bad at tagging people!!

[sifasdt]

SIFAS Daily Theatre Classic: 2020-10-31

(Transcription after the break.)

[Image transcription:]

SIFAS Daily Theatre for 2020-10-31

Halloween!!

Eli: We were talking about doing a Halloween party at school, right? Kanan: Yeah, it was definitely about that Eli: Then why! why is everyone wearing a costume and hiding in various places in school to scare us!? Kanan: Maybe it's a haunted house kind of thing.... But it's already October.... Also, it's Halloween! Halloween isn't that kind of event, right!? Eli: That's right, it's about trick or treating, right? Everything should be okay if you give them sweets, right? Kanan: The black cat Rin-chan just now was cute, but something like the Shizuku-chan one was tough.... A drama club member with a costume is quite something if they get serious.... Eli: That's true, also.... Kyaaah! Kanan: Nooooo! What, what is it!? Eli: I'm sorry, it was my own footsteps.... H-, hey, isn't it a little cold? If you'd like, I could warm your hands up, you know? Kanan: No no no, you're cold too, right, Eli-chan? I'll warm you up, so lend me your hand. Umm, don't let go, okay....?

[End transcription.]

[the-era-of-shadow]

Good Ol' Mistaken Identity

Written by Ash Rose

Summary: Now that it's not the brink of dawn, and Widow has been awake for a while, the events of the early morning truly set into her mind - and she starts connecting the dots to something that had occurred a few days ago… And starts to feel bad about it.

CW/TWs: Mentions of death, very mild swearing

Notes: Haiii can you believe it?? Another story so soon? What is this, 2020 all over again? Well, not quite, since this summer vacation is, well, more permanent than the one I had then - which is what has given me the time to pump a story out so quickly in the first place - while also being much higher quality than one from 2020 (hopefully). Besides, this story is essentially the epilogue to In Regards anyways - split into a separate story as to prevent any new readers in the future from getting spoiled for Inner Connection due to the reading order.

(Four days after the events of “In Regards to a So-called Twisted Maiden”, two hours after the ending of “Inner Connection”)

Despite how busy everyone was at the moment, whether it be gathering supplies to create a makeshift aircraft or handling the components of Project Midnight and preparing it for travel, things were rather quiet amongst the Black Arms - words really only being exchanged through the hivemind when instructions needed to be handed out.

The near silence caused Widow’s mind to ponder upon the previous few days and the things that had occurred during them. It was a shame that those girls got away without much more than some trauma, she would have happily killed them all if it weren’t for her meltdown that had been triggered by that blue bastard of a hedgehog’s transformation into their so called “super” form.

But at least she herself was still alive, and Eclipse has some new wisps to assimilate into Dark Arms to boot - Widow did have to admit that. She also had to admit that it probably wouldn't be alive right now if it hadn’t been for some seemingly very quick thinking from her late husband Doom. At first, Widow didn’t quite have a grasp on what exactly had gone on in the moment that had saved her life, but now with the events that had happened just a few hours ago in her mind, it was able to surmise that Doom had momentarily possessed Shadow’s body and had pushed the limits of their power, all to defend her…

It reminded her of a similar event that had occurred just a few days prior, on a bit of a lesser scale. When she had noticed that it was being stalked by those self proclaimed “Freedom Trainees”, she had made the hasty and possibly even risky decision to find refuge in a pawn shop owned by the brother of her most recent victim… But despite having every reason to be cruel to her, the shop’s owner had treated her and Garrick with the utmost care - and if that wasn’t strange on its own, during the entire visit, she had been overwhelmed with the sensation of Doom’s presence despite no physical evidence for such a feeling, and had been hearing whispers of the voices of comrades long past. It had chalked it all up to coincidence and/or her mind playing tricks on her while in distress at the time, but when she had been compelled by what it now realized to be the hivemind to return to the pawn shop early the next morning, and had found the owner’s dead body and a note addressed to her by her real name, she realized that it was no coincidence. It really had been Doom the entire time, just possessing the body of the shop’s owner as he would later do with Shadow - though Widow doubted that the shop keeper had agreed to the arrangement like Shadow had. 

If only she had realized it sooner. Maybe Doom could have kept that body long term? Not that there seems to be much issue with the current arrangement with Shadow, but Widow couldn’t help but wonder, nor could she help but feel like it needed to apologize for her ignorance.

As these thoughts came to her, Widow noticed that Shadow was seemingly taking a quick break, and she decided to try to get its attention.

“Oh? Do you need help with something, mom?” They inquired, its attention being successfully grabbed by Widow, as shown by how its head turned to face her.

“I do, actually. Though… It isn’t about the aircraft, nor Project Midnight. Is that alright?” Widow answered, acknowledging how busy its child must be, and not wanting to be a bother to them. “Heh. You want to talk to dad again, don’t you?” Shadow correctly guessed, grinning in a teasing manner. Widow simply nodded, as her cheeks became noticeably warmer. “Let me see if he’s available.” They told her, its mischievous smile gaining a soft and loving tinge to it.

“Thank you, Shadow. Truly… I know how busy you must be right now, so it is quite nice of you to do this for me.” Widow said as she moved closer to Shadow’s side.

“I’m on my break, why wouldn’t I?” Shadow explained plainly.

“Oh, bless you, sweet child…” Widow responded sweetly, deciding to sit down on a large rock as she spoke, unintentionally revealing a piece of paper that was in one of the pockets of her coat to Shadow.

“Dad says that he needs a moment. But while we wait, may I ask what is in your pocket?” Shadow spoke after about thirty seconds of silence, pointing curiously to the paper still sticking out of Widow’s coat.

“Oh, this little thing? … I honestly had forgotten that I still had it with me…!” Widow replied, gently taking the paper from her pocket.

“I remember seeing you hold a piece of paper of a similar size when you, Eclipse, Omega and Garrick were taking Relic to the hospital a few days ago. Is this the same one I saw then?” Shadow continued to question, approaching Widow to get a closer look.

“I do believe it is, if memory serves me well… It’s a letter from your father, I do believe.” Widow answered, allowing Shadow to take the paper from her.

“A… letter from my father? But… how could that-” Shadow began to question, skimming past the part of the letter that notes it as being addressed to Widow and unfolding it right away in order to see what was written within. But before they had the chance to read it, or even to finish its sentence, Doom finally appeared to them and Widow, interrupting the current conversation.

“Ah, hello… Apologies for my late arrival - even spirits need their rest, and I had been ignoring that fact for a bit too long…” He said to the both of them as the amulet around Shadow’s neck began to illuminate his form.

“Oh dear me… Did we wake you, Doomie? I’m terribly sorry if that’s the case!” Widow wondered with concern.

“Same here.” Shadow added with a nod, feeling just as remorseful, even if it didn’t show as blatantly as it did with Widow.

“Please, do not be sorry… There are much bigger hurdles than this that I would overcome for your sake. This is of no concern.” Doom replied.

“Hmph… If you insist.” Shadow remarked, trying to hide its guilt.

“Anyways… What is it that you summon me for, my most beloved darling?” Doom then inquired, seating himself beside his dearest wife.

“Oh, it isn’t much, really…” Widow began to say as she took back the paper from Shadow, “All I want is to apologize for not realizing that it had been you in that little old pawn shop, really.” She then admitted.

“My dear Widow… Please have mercy on your heart, I have already forgiven you for such a thing, for I had on the day itself.” Doom explained to her, making his best attempt to lovingly cup their hand on Widow’s cheek despite his current form being incorporeal.

“Oh Doomie… Your forgiveness means the universe to me…” Widow replied tenderly, placing her hand perfectly on top of Doom’s, as if he was not a ghost, but still alive and with her.

“I… I’d really hate to interrupt you two, since you seem so happy to be in each other’s presence at the moment, but… I am… a bit confused as to what this is all about.” Shadow hesitantly spoke up.

“Confused…? Oh, why so? I do believe I told you about the ordeal after I came home that afternoon, and I allowed you to read the letter, so what is not clicking for you, dear?” Widow questioned, genuinely not understanding why Shadow would feel lost.

“Well, first of all, you told Eclipse, and you noticed me eavesdropping. But more importantly, you had relayed the tale of your visit to the pawn shop in the StarSpiral Mall back when you believed the owner to be his own person - Benson Cadere, and that “letter” is more like a poem, or a snippet of song lyrics, and a vague one at that.” Shadow explained rather bluntly.

"Ah… I do suppose it is, then..." Widow admitted with lighthearted embarrassment. "It seems that even though we are connected through a hivemind, you are not as skilled at seeing into Doomie's mystery as I am… My genuine apologies, Shadow."

"It's all alright." Shadow replied with a nod. "Now… May I have an explanation for all this, please?"

“Of course. I do believe it would be a good idea to make it so that we are all on the same boat, as the saying goes. Widow, my dearest, why don’t you get us started?” Doom proposed, gesturing Shadow to come sit with them and Widow after he had spoken.

“I’d love to~!” Widow answered happily. “I’ll start with how I personally interpreted your little note to me! Because of all of the men I’ve lured into being the meals I use to keep myself and Garrick alive, I face a lot of ridicule from the people of this planet. A lot of people want me locked away, and a lot of other people want me dead, either way, I am very often an unwelcome presence. This time, however, someone had decided to take that desire of theirs and act upon it, plotting to get rid of me by whatever means they were having in mind. My beloved Doomie, however, somehow saw this and intervened, stopping my assailant from being able to make even a single scratch on me~! My guess is that it was Benson, wanting revenge for his brother’s demise, given that it was his body that they were possessing. I also think that if I had noticed Doomie’s presence sooner, he could have possibly used Benson’s body long term, which is why I felt the need to apologize, by the way. It feels like an opportunity lost…” 

“Oh, Widow my dear, you worry far too much… Besides, do you not think an unwilling host would at some point wish to fight back? Or at the very least reawaken within the body after some time?” Doom argued, wrapping himself around Widow in an embrace.

“I concur. That sort of thing would just cause unnecessary drama. I’d imagine it’d be an intriguing concept for a TV show plot, but we’re here to be victorious, not to entertain.” Shadow added, fidgeting with the Doom’s Eye amulet, which was temporarily made to be better fitting for it by overlapping the necklace’s chain around their neck, making it look as if Shadow was wearing several necklaces at once. “Besides, I like my new position… I had very much missed the closeness I had once had with dad… I almost feel like I’m on the ARK again…”

“But now without that traitor…” Doom muttered to himself.

Widow was about to try to stop Shadow from inquiring further, knowing that they lacked the memories of witnessing Gerald’s prerecorded betrayal, and also knowing that any questions asked about it would probably make Doom immensely uncomfortable, but just as it looked like Shadow was about to speak, it independently decided to drop the subject for whatever reason, turning its head to Widow instead.

“Anyways - the note makes more sense to me now that you’ve explained your interpretation. You really know dad well.” They said to her with a kind smile, and a tone of voice that was both thankful, but also a tad bit playfully envious of just how close Widow was with Doom.

“I’d be disappointed in myself if I didn’t!” Widow responded lightheartedly.

“But that still leaves me with one more question…” Shadow began, turning away from Widow. “How were you able to possess this “Benson” person if you told me last night that my relation to you was one of the core reasons why you selected me as your vessel?!” It then dramatically questioned, turning and even pointing to Doom as they stood up from the rock all three of them had been sitting on. A few seconds went by of awkward silence, both Doom and Widow being caught off guard by the way Shadow had asked its question. “... That sounded more playfully theatrical in my head…” Shadow admitted awkwardly as their body closed into itself from the confident stance it had been in before.

“Ah… You are alright, Shadow.” Doom assured, both him and Widow giggling at the situation once the shock wore off. “I do suppose I have some explaining to do. Since I will be honest now and admit that I was… lying.”

“Lying?” Shadow echoed in confusion.

“About the genetic link being an essential component for me inhabiting a body. The truth is that I can actually possess any body that I please, as long as my amulet is nearby… At some point during one of the two’s searches for items to sell at their shop, Benson and his brother Reginald had uncovered the amulet and brought it back to their pawn shop. This is how I was able to see that after Widow had killed Reginald, Benson was plotting to kill Widow. When I had found this out, I lured Benson into sacrificing his body to me by using Chaos Control to teleport the amulet to the foot of his door. From there, he marked his own fate by putting the necklace on…” Doom very thoroughly explained, covering his bases for both Shadow and Widow’s questions. “Though I will admit, your relation to me, in terms of it being the factor that makes you a Black Arms, certainly does make this whole arrangement more… stable. My abilities may be more plentiful due to my godly nature, but I am still a Black Arms, after all.” He added, now speaking directly to Shadow.

“Right…! Now that I think about it, I remember being told by someone that Black Arms can exchange vessels, but can’t inhabit a non-Black Arms body… I think it was Rhygenta that shared that information with me?” Shadow recollected as it finally sat back down on the rock. “Anyways… Why did you lie about that? It definitely seems… unnecessary to do so, doesn’t it?” 

“... I hated seeing you be so… loathing towards your own self… I merely wished to give you a purpose, and with it, a reason to have for loving yourself… Something that you are able to provide for your brethren… It is what has worked for me.” Doom answered tenderly.

“Doomie…” Widow said in a somewhat stern tone.

“ -What I believed to have been working for me, until I was made aware by my fellow Black Arms leaders that I should find reasons to find worth within myself instead of purely what I can do for others.”  Doom added per Widow's subliminal request.

"... Thank you. I appreciate that you wanted to help me…" Shadow responded, tears quickly filling up their eyes and falling down its cheeks, despite its efforts to wipe them away.

"Are you alright, Shadow?" Widow asked, the sight of her child crying bringing her much concern.

"Mhm. Just… overwhelmed." Shadow answered simply, clearly unable to manage much more than that.

Through the hivemind, Widow attempted to see into Shadow's mind, wanting to know what it was that was bothering it. It was hazy, as if there was a fog throughout the connection, but she could get hints of disbelief. Specifically, disbelief of the fact that Doom is in fact struggling with many of the same things that Shadow is. An overwhelming sense of… finally being understood. Widow chalked up the bad connection to the intensity of Shadow’s feelings and decided to allow them to either sort it out themself, or to directly ask Widow for assistance.

“Do you plan on making a new chain for the Doom’s Eye amulet when you get the chance?” Doom asked Widow out of the blue, changing the subject.

“I do, in fact!” Widow replied, happily going along with the new topic.

“Really? I think I like wearing it like this, actually!” Shadow joined in on the conversation, bouncing right back from being the emotional wreck it was only a minute earlier.

“Are… you sure?” Doom hesitantly questioned Shadow.

“Looks like Shadow’s bad taste in things strikes again!” Widow remarked mischievously.

“Hey!!” Shadow reacted - forcefully, yet clearly not seriously upset. “I thought you had moved past siding with the general public when it came to that!” It added.

“Shadow, I’m not “siding with the general public”, I just know an absolute mess of a movie when I see one!” Widow argued back in a playful manner.

“Awww come on! It’s one of the only two movies in the franchise that has your favorite character! That’s gotta count for something, right?” Shadow protested with a grin.

“Oh, not at all! The fact that such a train-wreck would feature her greatness is an insult to her honor!” Widow huffed, dramatically crossing her arms.

“Well… It’s the only movie in the franchise that has my favorite character…!” Shadow mentioned with puppy-dog eyes. A last ditch effort for sympathy.

“They deserve a better movie and you know it! Besides, that’s only because it’s still the latest movie in the franchise - which is a damn shame!” Widow countered.

“Hmph… Now I am the one that is “out of the loop”, as they say.” Doom lamented.

“Maybe we can do another marathon after we get to the Aerth Temple and get everything set up?” A voice that sounded strikingly like Garrick’s suggested.

Lo and behold, when Widow and Shadow turned around to see where the voice had come from, there Garrick was, with Blurk standing beside him.

“Oh! Hello Garrick!” Widow greeted, pleasantly surprised.

“That sounds like a good idea… But what are you doing here?” Shadow inquired of Garrick.

“I was sent out by Ma to go find you two and ask you how much longer you were planning on extending this break of yours, since there is still stuff that needs to be done.” Blurk explained quite straightforwardly, as he tends to do.

“And I tagged along because I like spending time with Blurk!” Garrick added excitedly.

“O-oh. I do suppose I’ve taken some more time away than I should have…” Shadow admitted, feeling embarrassed. “If I am going to be a vessel for my father, then I should lead a good example like he does! Tell Eclipse that I am immediately returning to work now!”

“And send Eclipse my apologies, please! I had just wanted to speak to Doomie about one specific thing, but then we got… sidetracked…!” Widow requested, practically pleading with Blurk, as she hoped that Eclipse wasn’t too upset with her.

“Got it.” Blurk replied, giving the both of them a thumbs up.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it, then…! I'd best be off… Until next time…!” Doom said to Widow and Shadow, being unable to help but yawn as he spoke.

“I shall call upon you if we are in need of you again.” Shadow told him as Widow began to walk off with the two young boys towards where the rest of the Black Arms were camped at, Shadow then following after them as Doom’s ghost faded from view.

[oatmealcrisp-freak]

So the Halloween FIc didn't happen this year for

a myriad of reasons~

But here's a list of all my Saiki K Halloween Fics to date! JIC <3

Teen And Up Audiences

No Archive Warnings Apply

Gen

Complete Work

No Archive Warnings Apply

Saiki Kusuo, Toritsuka Reita, Aiura Mikoto, Halloween 2020

Toritsuka convinces Aiura and Saiki to check out a house the local spirits have been avoiding the hell out of. They shortly find out why.

Mature

Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Multi

Complete Work

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Teruhashi Kokomi/Yumehara Chiyo, Saiki Kusuo, Kaidou Shun, Kuboyasu Aren, Teruhashi Kokomi, Aiura Mikoto, Yumehara Chiyo, Akechi Touma, saiki's issues, Toritsuka is not here., cosmic horror, Halloween 2021, catboy!Saiki, is it crossdressing if you're genderfluid?, Breaking the Fourth Wall, rated M for Mikoto, Body Horror, Identity Issues, Halloween

Halloween is here and PK is throwing its first ever Halloween event culminating in a costume contest. The prize? A massive chocolate pumpkin full of candy and, best of all, coupons!

Kusuo decides his goal of the day is to win it, helped by the fact that a certain someone came along with the perfect costume for him to do it in, and helped further by his own innate cat like charms. Of course nothing ever goes the way he planned it. Will Kusuo get a treat? Or will he have to do a trick? Ready or not, it's time to get some cat-tharsis.

Part 2 of The DiPsistrous Life of Catsuo Saikitty

Mature

No Archive Warnings Apply

M/M

Complete Work

No Archive Warnings Apply

Kuboyasu Aren/Saiki Kusuo, Kuboyasu Aren, Saiki Kusuo, Saiki Kusuke, Random Assholes, you know the feeling when your brother turns you into a vampire?, and it makes you go a little nutty when you're hangry?, and also you've been crushing on one guy who you know has fallen for you HARDcore?, this is that story., Vampires, Kusuke Saiki hate blog, Halloween 2021, Making Out, Bad Puns, Bad Pick-Up Lines, Romance, Single POV, hand holding, Alternate Universe - College/University, Vampire!Saiki

Aren has a crush, a handful of suspicions, and the news of some recent vampiric sounding attacks on his mind as he's walking late at night when he realizes he's being followed. Then Saiki shows up, and promptly dispels the myth of coincidence.

It was zombos - Incomplete Zombie Apocalypse fic that ruins Halloween! Follows the same contentions as Cathulu.

[poploppege-cosmere]

Zellion hold up the line at the local coffee shop. Zellion drink from plastic water bottles exclusively and never refill them. Zellion work as U.S. bank and purposefully tries and make people at the teller stand cry. Zellion go halloween trick or treating and when the bowl says "take one" he takes 20. Zellion punch mother theresa in the face. Zellion loves to smoke crack and kill some civilians. Zellion favorite flavor of ramen is plain chicken with nothing in it. Zellion chop down trees for fun. Zellion stuck in my mobile phone and give me viruses. Zellion wear jeans and khakis exclusively. Zellion go to hell on the weekends for fun. Zellion fall in love with the stripper and donate to v tubers. Zellion has previously unheard of toe fungus and passes it to 2 people by not wearing shoes in the gym shower. Zellion shoplift from small businesses. Zellion apologize like a dad . Zellion download ubereats and never tip the driver. Zellion hoard toilet paper in april 2020. Zellion has stink armpits and deoderant in his house but never use it. Zellion goes to haircut shop when bald and ask them to dye his hair please. Zellion steals someones sunscrean bottle and replaces it with mayonaise. Zellion favorite color to accent his minamalist house with beige. Zelleion eat squirrel meat for dinner. Zellion causes the tumblr porn ban. Zellion call customer service and complains about things. Zellion poison the local water supply. Zellion gives unknown liquids in a jar to men on street corners then leaves. Zellion starts fire at campsite even when the fire advisory is up. Zellion causes a 0.3% increase in developing cancer by standing near him. Zellion eats shorts. Zellion has small teeth capable of digesting small fish bones and all. Zellion own rare pokemon cards even tho he doesnt play it and will never give them to someone or sell them. Zellion takes a $3 off coupon and lights it on fire with a match in front of someone who could use that coupon. Zellion swims in vats of nutella and velveta before they go to packaging. Zellion mail glitter bombs to people as a sign of affection. Zellion hire contractor to work at his house but the house is already in perfect working order. Zellion in love with altcoins. Zellion eat spaghetti with spoon. Zellion buy shoes from target. Zellion sit in on small claims court meetings that arent his. Zellion doesnt show up to his small claims court meeting the first time forcing them to reschedule. Zellion goes under those dividers they have at events to indicate blocked off areas. Zellion plucks eyebrow hairs, not just his. Zellion can crack every joint in his body. Zellion go to pet store and pick out dog collar but doesnt own dog. Zellion wear tank top thats too small for him and it rips but he still wears it. Zellion favorite candle scent musk scented. Zellion morning alarm sound the sound of people booing political speech. Zellion love love love love love love love love lays barbecue chips. Zellion order his steak raw because he likes the taste of blood. Zellion steal hotdogs and other snacks from fireman breakroom. Zellion give intj stare to anyone who inconveniences him. Zellion stand on rolly chair to retrive item from top shelf. Zellion want someone to break into his house so he has an excuse to beat them to death with signed baseball bat (stolen). Zellion a mod on r/cringe. Zellion steal packages from peoples poarch then sells them on facebook marketplace. Zellion beat up elhokar and take his place in the minifigures line up

[thegildedbee]

10.7 [tricks to treats]

If I could, I'd live in my favorite month ✨🍂 🥾 all year, but since I can't, I'll settle instead for celebrating by tossing the spooky season into a hat and pulling out four sets of friday fic recs. First up isn't even halloween proper at all, but tips the hat by pranking a play on words: fics with tricks that turn to treats, which, as it happens, conjures up a whole lot of rom-com fluffiness, 2012 through 2020 :-) Don't overdose on the sugar! 🎃🧡🍬

[In order of word length]

Blind Date by swissmiss (2013), rated E, 6405 words. Mike "Cupid" Stamford sets up med school mate John with a blind date whom he advertises as being "tall and slender but with 'two pert, perfect handfuls, if you know what I mean' (Mike had accompanied the comment by cupping both his hands suggestively) and the 'most intense' eyes. And gorgeous, of course, with thick, dark curls. Not to mention 'more brains than she knew what to do with." John waits patiently at the bar, but she's a no-show, and he's left with dashed hopes -- at least until a gorgeous man who could've been the missing date's twin sidles on over, chats him up, and takes him home. Coup de Foudre by prettysailorsoldier (2014), rated T, 6446 words. John desperately attempts to vault over the language barrier to connect with the dishy French boy he's met on the slopes while on holiday, hoping against hope that by patching together his few remembered words of schoolbook French, a downloaded translation app, and an improvised form of tongue-tied charades, that his English language-dependent charm will work its magic. But sweeping the swooshing vision in a blue scarf off his feet may turn out to be less of an uphill battle than he fears!

Five Times Sherlock Fell Asleep in John's Arms by Accident and the One Time He Did It – Accidentally – on Purpose by WillowGrove (2020), rated T, 7201 words. John proves to be adept at deploying sleight of hand to instigate a campaign of serial snuggling with Sherlock that, step-by-step, brings them to the brink of coupledom . . . until, that is, he brings it all to a halt. Luckily for them both Sherlock has been taking notes, and finds a way to double down on the misdirection that John had managed so well -- and although his own convoluted contribution takes them the long way round, it gets them there in the end. Bonus: There's also a wonderful podfic by podfixx of this.

The Signal by dioscureantwins (2012), rated E, 7201 words. All across 1930s London the alluring younger brother of stuffy bureaucrat Mycroft Holmes is considered to be quite the catch -- too bad that he has no wish to be caught! Disdainful of fleshly pleasures, he's a celibate creature . . . until he's turned topsy-turvy after being caught up in a comedy of errors that he himself set in motion on a lark, with a soldier fellow of many -- ahem -- talents. Sherlock bursts in upon his big brother to expound upon his predicament in this first part, and turns his world right-side up and rearranged in part 2, Expectations and Educations (E, 10447 words).

What Would Sherlock Do? by EinahSirro (2014), rated T, 9359 words. We get to live inside John's head as he decides to cross the Rubicon and declare himself to Sherlock, although in a deliciously devious way in which his carefully thought-out pre-emptive deductions check-mate Sherlock at every step of a very long day of pursuit. A clever plot, humorous and spot-on character observations, and an economical dispatching of the oddnesses of S3 in favor of an immensely satisfying fix-it. And all of this delightfulness is doubled, as part 2 covers the same events, but from the detective's point-of-view, Sherlock Holmes and the Very Strange Day (T, 7383 words). The wonderfulness continues in a clever third installment, What if They Both Had Amnesia? (T, 27,316 words).

[matsuoka-lin]

🧡🖤🎃 Trick or treat~! 🎃🖤🧡

I took these pictures in 2020, but I still think they're super cute! So, here they are again. 🤭 For their outfits in 2023, I'll do something new. I already have a plan… a biiiig plan…👀

Re-posted for @thenightpool's Rin & Haru's Halloween Party event.

[anneimaginesundertale]

H A L L O W E E N 💀 F U N 💀 2 0 2 2

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

Spooky season is upon us! I have a big event story that’s going to go up Halloween weekend, but until then, let’s do a few fun things!

1) Askbox “Trick or Treat” — Send 🍬 for a sweet treat or 🎃 for a silly trick from the character of your choice. You can ask for multiple skeletons and get a trick and a treat from each.

2) Costume Parade — Suggest what the lads should wear for their Halloween costumes this year! A couple of them have ideas but we’re always open to more!

If you need ideas, here are the previous years’ lists: 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018. Nobody minds repeating ideas!

3) More Drabbles! — Continue sending Autumn Prompts or send some spooky ones my way!

[bioerin]

I posted 4,589 times in 2022

60 posts created (1%)

4,529 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@empiria-caterima

@chiqita

@oddishblossom

@str-ngeloop

@inthetags

I tagged 2,004 of my posts in 2022

#yeah - 57 posts

#eurovision - 26 posts

#yes - 20 posts

#cool - 19 posts

#supernatural - 19 posts

#self reblog - 18 posts

#me - 12 posts

#tag game - 12 posts

#ask game - 11 posts

#the phantom of the opera - 10 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#i once told a customer a magnet was 90€ and they just looked at me for a while and i did not get it until they asked 'that expensive' until

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Tagged by @frost0wl to tag 9 books I plan to read this year.

I have to admit I don't plan to read them all this year 😬 just plan to read them... sometime...

See the full post

9 notes - Posted January 19, 2022

#4

Trick or treat 👻

Look at Nietzsche asking for pets

(Send me "trick or treat" 👻)

10 notes - Posted October 31, 2022

#3

Tagged by @oddishblossom thank you!! loved your songs!

4 Songs I’ve Had On Repeat Lately:

Pas de Deux by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

REPRISE by The Lumineers

Migraine by Twenty One Pilots

Es atnācu uguntiņu - Latvian folk song (the song and dance festival version has been playing in my head a lot)

Tagging: @lalalalan @psychicbanana24 @drearywhispers @coldjellyfishsoul @bumblebee-bea and anyone else who wants to

12 notes - Posted February 22, 2022

#2

hey hyehyeyehye!!!!! i'll be going to finland in 3 days i'm super mega exited i'll be visiting mostly the south and the lake area and whie i'll be sure to enjoy the view i wanted to know if you have food recomandation? you are my closest mutual to there so you must have heard of some traditional dishes, i already have my eyes on karjalanpiirakka c:

hiiiiiiii

omg that's so nice!!!! good luck in finland!!!!!!! have been there only once when i was kid and i don't remember much, but only good vibes

the best thing i've eaten that is originally from finland: juustoleipä. i might be saying this just because i'm a cheese enthusiast, but it's a squeaky cheese that honestly does not have a lot of spice, but it's nice in texture and overall feeling.

also idk how familiar you are with rye bread but i also recommend that! i honestly have no idea if it reaches south europe and if you already eat it regularly

you could also try the scandinavian salty liquorice but i personally think that food was invented by the devil and only demons can enjoy eating it lol

as for karjalanpiirakka i have no idea, never tried any! hope it tastes good!

anyway, enjoy your time in finland and i hope you will be able to escape the death heat of summer i imagine italy being!!! (although it will still be hot probably idk)

20 notes - Posted August 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Tag People You Wanna Get to Know Better

Tagged by @oddishblossom thank you!! Really liked yours!!!

Relationship Status: single

Song Stuck in My Head: Mamma Mia by ABBA it's because I read a post recently about the movie mamma mia and the song just... emerged

Last Thing You Googled: the try guys (bc i saw a post how they've... fell apart. they did.)

Time: 20:55 at the moment

Dream Trip: I would like to go everywhere starting with Alaska. I just feel like no one would be there and I could just be.

Last Thing You Read: your love is sunlight by doodlebutt. a wangxian au fix-it fic which was just so nice to read

Last Book You Enjoyed Reading: Golden Stage. Huh I really have not read any books since 2020 yikes. Anyway Golden Stage my wonderful enemies to lovers book loved it with my whole heart.

Last Book You Hated Reading: The Girl With Nine Wigs. Got that book as a gift ages ago, and it is probably very bad of me to say I didn't enjoy reading about a girl with cancer based on true events. But I won't lie, I did not like reading it all. The main character tried to be relatable with the reader but I never connected with her, so I guess that was the problem.

Favorite Craft to Do in Your Free Time: does assembling ikea furniture count? I've recently moved and everything in my room is from ikea now. And I even got a little toolbox kit from ikea!! Look at me go! I just have to learn how to make holes in the wall and then I'll be unstoppable.

If that doesn't count I would say creating little trinkets now and then? I don't really have time to do anything, but I like to do stuff like gluing glitter to an old key and putting it up on a wall, or tying something to a string and creating a cat toy, things like that.

Most Niche Dislike: I don't like cut flowers. Of course, if I ever get any, I'm polite and thank people, but overall I just don't like taking a cut flower and putting it in a vase to die.

Opinion on Circuses: The only time I went to circus was the only time I saw my biological father in person. I was eight and it was very, very weird and thus circuses has always been tied to that event in my life and I feel very weird about them. This event is most probably tied with me not liking cut flowers, because before that I had no opinion about them, but then my father came to see me and gave me flowers and I was very, very uncomfortable.

Do You Have Any Sense of Direction: Not really, I am really bad at it. However, after taking a few wrong turns I would find my way anyway. But I know people who are worse than me and cannot even follow google maps, so I'm not that horribly bad.

Woosh this was an interesting tag game that took me places I did not expect to go!

Tagging (no pressure): @empiria-caterima @coldjellyfishsoul @frost0wl @ante--meridiem

21 notes - Posted September 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[lovecanbesostrange]

I kept thinking of that poll from yesterday about writing down a list of 100 fav movies and so I just gave it a quick try...

Alien (don't make me choose between 1&2)

Heathers

The Breakfast Club

Nightmare on Elm Street (1, 3, 7)

but I'm a cheerleader

Star Wars 4, 5, 6

The Faculty

The Goonies

Terminator (1, 2, Dark Fate)

The Proposal

Barb & Star go to Vista Del Mar

The Lost Boys

Imagine Me & You

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Princess Mononoke

Laputa - Castle in the Sky

My Neighbor Totoro

The Iron Giant

Titan A.E.

Mulan

The Little Mermaid

Lilo & Stitch

The Emperor's New Groove

Brave

Maleficent

The Hunger Games

GhostBusters (this franchise has no bad entry)

Scream (much like with Alien the third comes in last, but here the whole franchise is one big banger)

The Sixth Sense

Signs

Stardust

X-Men: Days of Future Past (I love almost all foX-Men films though, but 2 and DoFP are the best)

Avengers, Age of Ultron, Infinity War, Endgame (let me put them in a row and I will not pick any more from the MCU)

The Dark Knight

Back to the Future

Jurassic Park

The Lord of the Rings (SEE please)

North by Northwest

Witness for the Prosecution

Some Like it Hot

Mulholland Drive

Raiders of the Lost Ark (also Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, no wait probably more so 3>1, the others are fine)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Charlie's Angels + Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

Pirates of the Caribbean (1, 2, 3)

Stephen King's IT Chapter One (funny enough I probably wouldn't qualify Two as a fav on its own, though it's a good and necessary second half of the story, but Chapter One is where it's at)

Carrie (1976)

The Mist (black-and-white is dope)

Misery

Stand by Me

Spaceballs

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Adventures in Babysitting

The Invisible Man (2020)

Pitch Black

Sunshine

The Cabin in the Woods

Evil Dead (especially 2)

Event Horizon

The Blob (1988)

Death Becomes Her

Steel Magnolias

A Fish called Wanda

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (German Dub supremacy though, Volle Kanne Hoshy)

Stranger than Fiction

An American Werewolf in London

The Silence of the Lambs

Starship Troopers

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Mamma Mia

Little Shop of Horrors

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Moulin Rouge

The Craft

A Chinese Ghost Story

Lady Vengeance

Silver Hawk

Dr. Wai in the Scripture with No Words (had to look up the English title, hey it's Jet Li's version of Indiana Jones and I have a soft spot for this one, even though it's far from Li's best and has so many flaws due to being a nightmare production)

Parasite

Mallrats

St. Trinian's

Ginger Snaps

The Fountain

Galaxy Quest

Elvira - Mistress of the Dark

Cruel Intentions

St. Elmo's Fire

Shaun of the Dead

Rock'n'Roll High School

The Prestige

Underworld (the first above all else)

Resident Evil (especially Afterlife)

Playing by Heart

The Heat

Kill Bill

Ever After

Donnie Darko

Happy Death Day

Trick 'r Treat

D.E.B.S.

Wait, how have I already reached 100? There aren't even the quirky films (like TiMER) or the fun horror trash (my love for Deep Blue Sea is endless). Didn't dive into European films (Amélie) or specific German stuff (bandits). I can do a 100 list for horror alone easily (omg not even The Haunting on here).

Anyway do not question how my mind wandered from title to title, also there is zero ranking involved. Damn, there are five on the list that I don't own on DVD or BD. hmmmm... What does favorite movie even mean? Who knows. In any case for the past few months I've gone back far more to stuff I already know instead of watching new things (that I plan to watch some day, but well, it never felt right).

[50-foot-woman]

If I had to choose - Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the decorations, watching scary movies, and the excuse to dress in costume and walk around my neighborhood surrounded by other people in costume walking around my neighborhood. It’s cool to be weird for this one day a year and what a relief to someone like me who’s weird 365. And the candy, of course. Who doesn’t love that?

Halloween 2020 was a weird one. Like many other people across the world, our family had been trapped at home for months - our kids attending school virtually, our workplaces moved to Zoom, and even happy hour with our friends played out in those tiny, Brady Bunch-like boxes. I don’t regret our decision to do this but it was hard on all of us.

It was really important to my husband and I (and my sister and brother-in-law who were in our “bubble”) that the kids have as normal and fun a Halloween as was possible under the circumstances. We went overkill with the decorations (which went up 3 weeks earlier than usual to lift everyone’s spirits) and over-planned the event with cookie decorating and a spooky movie night (the kids voted for Hocus Pocus).

Our community pulled together and created a Halloween experience that was safe but still allowed the kids to trick or treat. Many, like us, left candy out for a contact-less trick-or-treat, but some folks went out of their way to make social distancing fun. They build crazy ramps down which candy sailed into your bucket, put together kiddie pools for kids to fish out their candy (thoroughly water-proofed of course), and someone even created a (very gentle) trebuchet to shoot candy into the throng of children. It was a truly joyful night and we all needed that so much.

I took some photos with my Holga that night (many of which didn’t come out because the film speed just wasn’t fast enough) and here are some of my favorites, edited and unedited below.

The photos of my daughter and the Five Nights At Freddy’s inflatable in the yard were taken at dusk - they came out the best - although still underexposed. The 400 speed film just couldn’t hack it. Some Delta 3200 would have done the job, but nonetheless I like the moodiness of these images.

This photo of my niece was VERY underexposed, but reminds me of an old victorian photo you might see in a haunted house.

And just for fun, here is my friend Andy dressed as Frank the bunny from Donnie Darko in October 2015. Taken with my Holga, edited to boost both contrast and dynamic range. The vignetting of the Holga gives this a suitably creepy look.

Happy Halloween everyone! I am going to try to get out this weekend with my Mamiya and shoot some Cinestill 800T so I can give night photography a go. The spooky neighborhood decor will be a perfect setting and he halation effect that is common with the Cinestill 800T will hopefully give everything an eerie glow.