570 - This Concludes Our Broadcast Day (backdated to last night)

[hard_talker]

[being a ferret was not exactly Mark's idea of a good month, especially since he got to see everything first hand, and watch people suffer through what the castle had put them through ... and not be able to say anything. when it had turned him and Nora into inanimate objects, that had been bad enough, but this ... this wasn't just insulting, it was demoralizing, and he needed someone to talk to about it, someone who'd help set him back on a nice, even keel before he lost his shit completely. and after everyone who's come and gone, the only one left he can really think of that wouldn't be busy is his "Aunt" Phoebe.

finding her, too, gone, well ... he doesn't even bother saying anything. he just goes to find Nora.

and that evening, packages start arriving at people's doors. maybe he did a drop and dash, maybe the ghosts delivered them, but they arrive, just the same. and at good old 10 PM, the music starts.

the music starts, and it doesn't stop.

this time, he'll just let it speak for itself. because he has a feeling, as he hoists his backpack up on his shoulder, reaches for Nora's hand, and squeezes it tight, that if he starts talking tonight, he might just stay. that the castle might just worm its way into his head again and do ... whatever it is that it does. and he's done with it. he's done with all of it.]

Sixth Temptation ♆ Every Time a Bell Rings [dictated/action]

[putuporshutup]

The night before

[When Meg departs the scene of James Bond's murder, she spends the night checking the places she could think of to find the douchebag that blew him up. Everyone seems to want him in custody and she's got more than enough juice to pull that off, so hey. No skin off her ass. Unsurprisingly, he's not lurking around any of the usual places she knows to look, but she had expected him to be laying low. It might take some time, but she'll find him.]

Filtered away from Silva and anyone else who would warn him:

Listen up. I need to have a little chat with Silva about what happened to James, so if you hear anything about his whereabouts, be a doll and let me know, kay? Oh, and do it privately, would ya? Can't have him scampering off before I get a word with him.

[Nope. Not threatening at all, Meg. So subtle.]

The morning of the 30th, in the Lobby

[Sometime before dawn, she has the pleasure of watching the castle transform as Halloween decor appears everywhere. When she looks down, she's dressed in exactly the costume she'd planned. Not too shabby, Wonderfuck! The long, silvery white embroidered gown is a bit of a change of pace for her, but it completes the look with the fluffy feathered wings and glistening halo beautifully. Her usual messy waves are smoothed into perfect ringlet curls. A cursory peek down her bodice and a quick lift of her skirt confirms that Paradisa had even gotten the memo about her other plans, with the corset and garter and white thigh highs underneath... just in case. She smirks and twirls around, laughing as the full skirt flares out and the feathers flutter. Perfect.]

Later that day...

[By midday, Meg is decidedly less than thrilled with her costume. It's ridiculous. Not practical in the least, a pathetically limited caricature of her true form which she is extremely confused about at the moment. She attempts to rip off the gown and wings and halo and when all that fails, at the very least, she tries to extract the sinfully tacky lingerie and absurd shimmery silver heels from underneath. No such luck. The simple, classy grey pantsuit, crisp white dress shirt, and black loafers that she's wished up just sit there, taunting her.

Though they are bothersome, Meg eventually decides that clothing is not of import and that she must focus on the task at hand. She opens her journal and speaks calmly, deliberately.]

Filtered away from Silva and anyone else who would warn him:

Dear brothers and sisters, I must ask for your help. There has been murder done here and justice must be swift. If you wish to assist me in this mission, I will lead you to victory.

[A pause as she remembers that she has another job to do.]

I must fulfill my duties... tending bar, but I urge you all to come join me at the Death Match so we may discuss matters. You may also wish to partake in the current festivities, although I do not advise or condone imbibing too many spirits.

May peace be with you all.

[Seacrest out.]

003 | Dictated

[batteriesarehard]

So I have to figure in a place like this that can dish out horror whenever it wants and isn't exactly restricted by things like dates, Halloween must either be extra terrible or just another day.

[She's really not looking forward to how you could top weird floating men who steal your voice before they cut your heart out, but she's also pretty damn sure there's no getting around some sort of creepy castle version of Halloween.]

Anyone have any tips for a newbie on what to expect tomorrow? Stories about what happened last year, maybe? I'd like to be at least a little prepared.

Log...Final

[encryptedlock]

[York's voice is a bit more hesitant and subdued than usual. This has been coming for a while, but it's still not exactly easy for him to say.]

Hey there, everyone. I just--wanted to let you all know that it's time someone went and checked out that spot on the map marked New York and, well, I couldn't think of anyone better to do it than me. Carolina's going with me, of course.

The thing is, I'm not planning on coming back.

We'll be taking the car that the Spartans made. The sleds are for everyone--they're in the garage out back of the castle. Bet most of you didn't even know we had a garage, huh?

So, uh. I guess this is goodbye, castle.

[Wash and South]

The hangar and the second Danger Room are up to you guys now. The teleporter on the roof of the hangar is keyed to the Danger Room, and it's located at three degrees north of due west in the mountains, about 50 kilos out from the castle. Keys are on top of the fridge in the hangar.

[/Wash and South]


[Friends]

[If you think you're on this filter, you probably are.]

I'll be checking in with Dr. Brewer in Fairfield from time to time, so if you really need to get a message to me, just leave it with him. Or if any of you ever want to join me out there, well, there'll always be room.

[There's a long pause.]

You guys are the only thing that's made it worthwhile to stay. I'm not leaving because of any of you, or anything you did or didn't do or could have done. It's me. I've been here almost five years now, and--it's just too much. Maybe I'll be back some day, but if you all go home before we meet again, I just want you all to know that each and every one of you is special. Not because the castle chose you or because you have some special power or because you're important in your own world. It's because you're my friends, and there's nothing more important than that. Nothing the castle does can take that away.

Not to sound cheesy or anything, but I thought you all should know that. And, well.

Goodbye.

034 - ....... WHAT! (Backdated to this morning.)

[silentrunning]

[Chell had not planned on doing anything at all for Halloween. She still didn't quite grasp the concept, despite being here for over a year. She understood Jack-o-lanterns now, thanks to Ben, but the rest of it? It made no sense! So, she wasn't expecting anything odd when she woke up on October 30. She crawled out of bed, preparing to set about her morning routine...

And that's when she passed the Magikarp tank and caught a view of her reflection. Her head was topped by a ridiculously huge, fluffy bow, almost as large as her head. And worse, it was pink. Pale, baby-girl pink. And she was wearing a long dress, with lace at the hem and sleeves and neckline. Down the front of the dress were little heart-shaped buttons. And her boots? They'd been replaced by patent-leather mary jane shoes.

With a growl, Chell reached for her journal and dictated into it.]

Please tell me someone else out there woke up in a costume as ridiculous as mine? Please?

[She kicks the wall in annoyance. She was dressed like a child, or like pictures of children she'd seen in some of the older books in the library. This was not going to sit well.]

☠ 059

[molotov]

( Filtered to Ezio )

Nelchaen-a-Min

[inafadingcrown]

( Anne Boleyn, Spike, and Bilbo Baggins )

( Those who know about the One Ring (and filtered away from Bilbo Baggins) )

I wish I may, I wish I might...

[wishmadeinfire]

[ On some instinctive level, Ashura knew the outfit laid out for him when he woke that morning was more than it seemed. He had not wished for it, and if the Castle had given it, then surely there was another catch to it. He had considered it for a long time as he went about his morning, bathing, feeding his two little pets, and feeding himself. He debated and waffled and spun about in his head, but finally sighed and gave in, one of the ghosts politely helping him put in the hair pieces that somewhat baffled him.

In the end, Ashura was dressed the brightest he and been in a long time. Unlike his normal blacks, reds, and golds, he had on paler colors - light, light violets, touches of icy blue, an off blue-white - it fluttered about him as he walked, trailing even. His hair was left loose behind him save for a single tie at the base of his neck, and into the remaining, floor length hair were secured what looked like long, LED lights. The glowed the pale white-blue of star light, and seemed to leave a small light trail as his hair flowed and waved about his head whenever he moved. 

It was, it seemed, the Castle's attempt at making him a comet, or rather, a falling star.

Not that Ashura quite picked that out yet (and it was a cruel prodding, wasn't it?).

At first he saw no ill effects of this. It simply was. However, he felt the need to move faster when he moved at all, a streak of soft white light down the hall. And like all falling stars, you could wish upon him - wish with you all your might. If he heard it within ear shot, well... he may or may not have the sudden urge to try and grant it.

That was what wishing stars did, after all, wasn't it? ]