ic Ghosts and Grimalkins: Halloween Horror Nights

[RocketLord]

GM

 

Evening, Thursday October 31st,2024

A fancy apartment building in Parkside, Freedom City

 

"I really appreciate you doing this on such notice, Casper," Jessie says from the couch, her resting on top of it.

 

Normally, she was fine, but today Jessie Taylor Wilson had the worst luck of her life. Everything had just seemed to go wrong. Dropped her favorite cup by accident, stepped on the cat's tail, scratched her car, and so on, and finally, she had fallen and sprained her leg. It wasn't too bad, but she had to rest, which meant no going out trick or treating at the big event at Liberty Park for her daughter Carrie.

 

Carrie had her own idea, of course. Call in her dad, and get him to go with her. Jessie had hesitated a bit. They're on good terms, the split was (mostly) amicable, but still... he might have plans. As it turns out, those plans weren't anything that he wouldn't drop to take his 10 years old daughter trick or treating, and he had brought his girlfriend, Lynn, who Carrie absolutely adored.

 

The plan is set for Halloween, then, as Carrie, dressed up as Lady Liberty, eagerly waits for her parents to stop talking so they can go already.

[RocketLord]

GHOST

 

"Hey, don't worry about it. We didn't have any serious plans or anything, right Lynn?" Casper says with a shrug, as he pushes Carrie down while she tries to drag him off by the arm. "Just, y'know, doing that part time job." Their old codeword for going out patrolling. Carrie still doesn't know anything about him being Ghost, of course, and Casper's pretty sure that Jessie's figured out that Lynn is Grimalkin. They have been seen together a lot when masked, after all. 

 

"Home by 9, right?" Casper asks, earning him a loud "DAD!" from Carrie. "Yeah, yeah, 11. Don't worry, we'll have a blast."

 

With a last goodbye to Jessie, they head out. "I hope it's still alright with you, Lynn. I couldn't leave Carrie without a chance to go out and earn some candy, right?" 

[Heritage]

GRIMALKIN

 

Normally, Lynn Epstein liked to do something big for Halloween, her favorite day of the year; sponsor a big spooky-themed charity event, get sucked into a horror movie, something like that. However this year, her and her new boyfriend decided to play it low-key: stay in and snuggle on the couch, watch some scary movies and stuff their faces with popcorn. But then came the call that Cas had to be Superdad, which was understandable and totally cool. Lynn was a mother herself, after all, and to be honest, a man who accepted parental responsibility was sexy as hell.

 

So a quick Lyft ride later, the heroic couple were at Jessie's place to pick up Carrie and spend the spookiest night of the year with the world's coolest kid. Lynn opted for a family-friendly Link cosplay (Ocarina of Time was her childhood jam) that let her show her natural pointy ears.

 

"It's all good, Jess; make sure to keep that foot elevated! C'mon, Lady Liberty, let's hit the streets and keep Freedom safe!"

Edited November 13 by Heritage

[RocketLord]

GHOST

 

And into the night they go.

 

"So, what's the deal with Lady Liberty this year, kiddo? I thought Ghost was your favorite hero?" Casper asks. Sure, it might've changed, but that's how things used to be, at least. He hadn't done anything to push that (honestly, he hadn't), but always suspected that Jess might have tried pushing his heroics...

 

"C'mon, dad, they're not making Ghost costumes, and y'know mom, she'd just think I meant a ghost and cut some holes in a sheet or something. Plus, Lady Liberty's cool. We learned about her in school this year. Did ya know there's been Lady Liberties for centuries?" Carrie says back, as she looks over her shoulder, looking back at her dad and Lynn. "I love your costume, Lynn! At least somebody thought to dress up for Halloween!" The look she gives Casper is, of course, very disappointed.

 

"Ouch... but yeah, that's fair. In my defense, I didn't really plan on going out, y'know."

 

He shrugs, turning to Lynn a bit. "Ever been to the Liberty Park Halloween thing? Kid friendly thing, setting up these booths all over the park so kids can be safe going trick or treating... better than taking her out in the Fens, at least."

[Heritage]

GRIMALKIN

 

Lynn grinned and bowed in response to Carrie's compliment.

 

"I thank you, Lady Liberty, but don't be too hard on your dad. Not everyone's as good as me at whipping up a costume on short notice! Call it a gift!"

 

In response to Casper's question, she snorted a laugh.

 

"Oof, yeah! Not a great idea in the Fens! In my neighborhood, mostly the parents just take the kids to the local shops to trick or treat. We get a bunch of kids every year at the store, but typically they're all gone before 5pm."

 

She shook her head as she took a few playful swings and thrusts with her wooden sword.

 

"And no, I haven't been to the Liberty Park thing, but I'm definitely looking forward to it! I love Halloween!"

 

And here, the Link cosplayer grew perhaps a bit too enthusiastic, and proceeded to weave and bob through the costumed crowd like a Hollywood stunt double, stopping just short of the limits of humanity in her tumbling and vaulting dance. The holiday crowd clapped and cheered as Lynn began to regain her composure, her cheeks pink with exertion as she returned somewhat sheepishly to the Churches' side.

 

"Sorry about that! I need to...tone it down a bit. Whew!"

Edited Wednesday at 11:06 PM by Heritage

[RocketLord]

GHOST

 

Casper chuckles, while Carrie stares at Lynn with wide eyes. "Why can't you do that, dad?"

 

"Ouch, again. Not everyone's all acrobatic like Lynn, y'know," he answers back. 

 

He grins back at Lynn and shrugs. "I mean, I was enjoying the show, but hey, depends on how much attention you wants to draw."

 

Casper's enjoying himself, at least, and Carrie only seems to fall more and more for Lynn with her antics. It's all good to him.

 

They soon reach Liberty Park and, as Casper had promised, there's a ton of booths set up in view of everyone, with people manning them and handing out candy. The park has been decorated with all kinds of appropriate decorations, including a haunted house for the braver kids.

 

Still, Carrie is all about the candy, and she looks to her dad. "Can I?"

 

"Sure. Just stay in sight, alright?"

 

While she runs off to the booths, he turns to Lynn, a large grin on his face. "So? Nice place, right?"