A very merry Halloween! [Mingle]

[ourearth]

Date: 31st of October
Characters: Open!
Warning: Non-sexual desecration of formerly buried corpses

---

On the morning of Halloween, when people first step out of their houses, they will almost step into something.

A bucket of water. Every flat and every house in the Mossgate Boundary has a bucket placed in front of its entrance door (and sometimes, especially in Folkton and Moss Manor, the back door too), in which scary apples are floating. A little sign taped to the bucket reads: Have fun bobbing!.

But that's not the only thing that happened. The second thing that people will notice is that there are billions of spiders of all sizes crawling all over the town and villages, the military base, the Manor House... everywhere. And they certainly did their job - trees, lanterns, the higher attractions on the pier, and everything else that is high all over Mossgate Council is covered in thick layers of cobweb.

And lastly... those who pass by a church will notice something about the graveyards around them. Namely, that someone placed skeletons on top of most of the graves... Awfully real looking ones. Really, really awfully real looking ones. To some of them, the soil of the graveyard still clings, and the graves underneath them are in a state that betrays that they were dug up during the night. DNA tests would show that, indeed, the skeletons belong to the individuals buried in the graves.

Comments

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie nods in agreement, "We should, Professor Petty keeps an eye on us and there's no-one else at school with a Number."

Sadie takes off her witch's hat and leas against Ben's shoulder as they continue to walk. "I feel safer already. It certainly speaks to the human ability to adapt to new circumstances. It still needles me at how ridiculously outside the realm of science that has become."

[warped_replica]

All the more reason to make certain their mentor is okay.

Traces of heat build under the facemask and the strip of fake bandage over his nose and cheekbones when Sadie leans to his shoulder, and it intensifies as she relates being closer to him to being safer. It is no doubt he would do all he could to protect her if the need arose, but imparting security is an unexpected compliment. He smiles for it and runs his thumb lightly over the back of her hand as he slows their pace minutely to help her stay there.

“You and me both... It’s outside the laws we know and have studied, but perhaps there are rules to all this. Walter had suggested first time experiences are linked to Echoes, and that seems to hold true most of the time. Aside from the aurora, the giant cake, and that bald man... We simply need more data to discern others.” Though his voice is calm generally, the mention of the mystery man is spoken with tension born of an ember of anger.

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie certainly won't complain about the change of pace if it makes it easier for her to lean on Ben, the contact soothes her and she knows that it has a similar effect on Ben.

Her grip on Ben's hand gets a little tighter when Ben mentions the bald man. Sadie would very much prefer to forget about him entirely and just hope that she doesn't ever see him again. Something tells her that that will be unlikely.

"The amount of variables involved in this is ridiculous as well, and only getting more ridiculous as time goes on. It does help that people seem to be fairly open in what's happening to them, it makes plotting the changes a little easier."

[warped_replica]

With any luck, he’ll be there the next time that bald man shows his face to a Numbered.

Giving her hand a squeeze, Benjiro stays close to Sadie as her contact with him buries the glint before it catches. The influx of the spiders will keep him occupied for today even if nothing else arises from this set stage.

“I may not be the only silent one on the Network, but the people that are conversing have been very forward,” he agrees. “Aside from the benefit of having that data, we’re able to assist in adapting to the shifting circumstances.” A larger pool of resources exists between the Numbered than any one individual, and Sadie being offered medical support on the Network recently is evidence to it. The whole thing is beginning to feel like a community.

[dragoonrouge]

"It's nice." Sadie admits, "It feels like we aren't alone, and the support, knowing that the others are also trying to work it out and that we don't have to do this by ourselves. hell, if it was just the two of us, or even just us and Walter...I honestly don't think we'd be coping as well as we are at this point."

Sadie grins, "How great is it that your neighbour is a doctor! I mean, it's sad that she and her daughter are now involved but think of how much safer it'll be for us if something happens. Now all we need to do is hunt down a dentist and an optometrist and we'll both have our specialist needs sorted."

[warped_replica]

“I know I wouldn’t be,” he says without delay. Conscious of his tendencies to be quiet and reserved, as well as to dwell in worry, he would not be able to sleep at night were it limited to the three. Between them, they simply do not have enough data or resources.

“Even a dentist with a number might be reluctant to stick his hand in my mouth,” Benjiro speculates in jest with a smile in his words. Joking aside, he is relieved for the one boon brought by Mrs. Tilly and her daughter being swept into the chaos, “But I agree, and I can’t think of a better mannered doctor than her.” Benjiro knows her as a neighbor first, however, every visit to the Tilly household has always been pleasant despite the unfortunate circumstances of the computer issues.

[dragoonrouge]

"I'm sure they'd be fine, all they'd need would be kevlar surgical gloves and they'd be good to go." She jokes back before falling into a comfortable silence for a bit as they keep walking.

"Ben, did you see the way she was stroking a cat that wasn't there?" She asks a little later, "I didn't want to mention it in the house incase it distressed Mrs Tilly."

[warped_replica]

"That might do," is all he adds as he allows the quiet to take hold to enjoy the walk with Sadie.

Sometime later after they've assisted his neighbor and have started back out for the station, he answers with a frown, "I did. Maybe I can mention it to her next time I see her. That's something she should be aware of... Especially if it's something from an Echo."

[dragoonrouge]

"That's probably a good idea, and it'll certainly be better coming from you if it's something that's still happening down the road."

Sadie grimaces as they arrive at the train station. "Sodding cobwebs. This is still far too weird to be anything good." She tells Ben, gesturing to the covered building.

[warped_replica]

“That seems probable unfortunately. No one else has mentioned hallucinations or mimicking with their Echoes.” Two possible explanations for Mrs. Tilly to have acted that way.

Instinctively he wraps his arm around her shoulders after she gestures at the building, unable to refute that he has a similar expectation, “No, it probably isn’t good. I think everyone, Numbered or not, will be cautious today.” So long as the spiders keep to their webs, it shouldn’t be overly dangerous. Heading into the station with Sadie and to the platform to await the train, he takes notice of a spider starting to descend from the cover and gently tugs Sadie in a side step out of its path.

“Up is usually not what we have to worry about..”

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie glances up as Ben tugs her out of the way, spotting the eight-legged web weavers for the first time this morning, and is stopped in place by the empty thumping of an Echo.

She snarls as the enormous, many-eyed, chittering form of Arachne Eve as the giant spider looms above her, legs grasping, the Hyurian face of the monster's upper body set in a grim smile.

Jumping to avoid the webbing that hits the ground where she had been a moment before, she swings her glowing staff round and feels the familiar tug of her aether depleting as it rockets into the ginormous spider of the form of a roaring fireball that knocks Arachne Eve off of its feet as the creature lets out an almighty screech.

[warped_replica]

The way in which Sadie halts gets his attention, and leaning to peer at her face with a raise brow, he can tell by the look she wears that something in avoiding the spider triggered a response from her Number. Keeping his arm around her shoulders, turns to face her in order to be closer to her as he waits for the Echo to release its grasp with his other hand lingering in front of her, "...Sadie?"

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie blinks as she comes back, spots the spider again and shudders, tucking herself in towards Ben.

"Deeefinitely a fantasy world. I was being attacked by a giant, sodding spider lady." The disturbed frown quickly brightens and it's clear from her words why. "I threw a Fireball at her!" She tells Ben gleefully because Oh Holy shit magic.

*raised (dear mallows I could not type yesterday)

[warped_replica]

Concern marking his expression, Benjiro curls both of his arms around her when she tucks in towards his chest after giving the spider a second glance. The report of a giant spider lady leaves a lot to the imagination, but he isn't keen to pry for details. Then, the shift of mood lifts his eyebrows at the idea of Sadie lobbing a fireball at said monster.

"Fireball? As in a collection of fire around an incendiary object, or are we talking about the mythical variety?" Her glee is an indication towards the latter, but the start of a smile behind his mask demands absolute certainty.

Big mood

[dragoonrouge]

Well seeing as Ben's wrapped his arms around her she is absolutely going to use the opportunity to turn it into a hug.

"The mythical variety, I had a staff and as it started to glow it felt like something tugging under my skin and then boom! Fireball... I wonder if that's something I'll end up being able to do in the future..."

[warped_replica]

The loose embrace becomes a hug returned when Sadie wraps her arms around him. His smile reaches his eyes as she provides a bit more detail, marveling at the concept. By now, magic isn’t so absurd after assisting Sadie with testing her underwater breathing skill and the appearance of a book in her bag in the tunnels.

“There’s a strong probability. Also, I’m definitely adding it as #73 to my list of ‘Reasons not to make Sadie mad’.”

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie glances up with a raised eyebrow, "Reason number seventy-three? Dare I ask when you started composing this list and what reasons one through seventy-two?" She teases him before resting her head on his shoulder.

[warped_replica]

Benjiro fails to restrain a soft snicker at her question, the paltry effort insufficient, and he gives her a warm squeeze in the hug as she rests her head to his shoulder, "Only after I saw you really and truly angry for the first time at the end of September." When she arrived at their professor's office by bursting through the door. "And reason one is because Sadie is the best girlfriend and does not deserve to be irritated."

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie scowls at the reminder of the September incident, "They hurt you." She grumbles before flushing bright red and hiding her face in Ben's shoulder.

"You're the best boyfriend too and deserve to be happy." Sadie reciprocates the sentiment, voice muffled.

[warped_replica]

There is no effort made to deny that the other teenagers had injured him, and while he could point out he healed after inflicting worse on one of them, he leaves the matter to the past.

As Sadie hides against his shoulder, he smiles further and smooths a hand up and down the length over her back, "I am happy, Sadie. You're with me." His life here in Mossgate, even with the craziness brought on by the Numbers, he has felt happier than he can remember before with her and among their friends.

Curiosity returns, and after a moment he asks, "So, do you remember what color that fireball was? It may not work the same with magic, but we can estimate the temperature if it follows any amount of chemistry."

Sorry, only had this open on my laptop x.x

[dragoonrouge]

That declaration draws out a deep, satisfied, rumble of a purr from Sadie as her skin continues its attempts to spontaneously combust. Wrapping her arms around Ben she squeezes, "Same." Is Sadie's reply in all her flustered eloquence.

She could pull back to answer Ben's question, to watch the ideas and possibilities flicker across his face, but they have some time to wait still until the next train and she's more than comfortable here so she won't. "The fireball was mostly yellow in colour with some orange so nothing especially hot as it flew through the air. But it did literally explode on contact so had concussive force behind it as well."

No worries

[warped_replica]

The sound of her purr brings a warmth into his cheeks, and he reciprocates the squeeze firmly. It had been the honest truth to attribute much of his happiness to her presence and their relationship, and therefore easy to speak. Especially in the moment when he's holding her.

Keeping Sadie close as she seems to be reluctant to part, Benjiro listens to the description carefully, "The orange in the color would indicate it's at least 1100 degrees celsius, but likely even hotter for the yellow. The force is interesting, and perhaps part of why it is able to maintain stability until it reaches a target."

[dragoonrouge]

"Huh, I'll admit that that is hotter than I thought it would be. Makes it weirder that the person in the memory didn't suffer any ill effects from being so close to the detonation." She snorts, "Another point in favour of bullshit magic I suppose."

[warped_replica]

"Did she not feel much of the heat? I wonder if the force behind it continued as a channel until detonation preventing any blowback..." he muses curiously. "Still, that's a nice safey feature not being at risk for burning oneself if locked into a close range."

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie shakes her head, "If that Fireball was as hot as you think it is, it felt like standing next to a hairdryer in that memory. Definitely handy though, the less burnt hair the better."