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 November 20 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?"

[Heritage]

GRIMALKIN

 

"It's very cool," Lynn declared with genuine enthusiam as she nonetheless kept her eyes locked on her new favorite kid, like the protective mama bear she was. She carefully sniffed the air, making sure she could still track Carrie by scent if need be: the smell of her shampoo and the organic detergent and fabric softener that Jessie used to do her laundry were thankfully both fairly distinctive.

 

"So how is she around scary stuff? Can she do a kid-friendly spook house, or is that a few years off?"

[RocketLord]

GHOST

 

"Ah, she's good. Just, y'know, she's 10, so there's limits."

 

God knows that he tried to keep Carrie from everything scary and dangerous when she was younger. Jessica was the one to let her watch all the scarier stuff that Casper thought she was too young for her.

 

"Making plans, now?"

[RocketLord]

GM

 

While Lynn and Casper watches, a cold wind rushes past them. A chill that cuts through any clothes they're wearing, like it isn't there. There is clearly something more to it than just the weather.

 

They can almost barely see a faint outline that carries through the night, like a woman's shapely body breaking through the snow and then, before they have a chance to do anything, the body fully materializes, a woman in a form fitting white costume with a black skull mask and short white hair in a pixie cut appears. She wears a see-through white cape that connects to her neck and her wrists. Her eyes glow with a ghostly light blue effect, not unlike Casper's own effects. The hands and feet of her costume are black, almost like they were colored by burns, that stretch up her arms and legs, slowly fading into white.

 

"He's here! I know he's here! I can smell him!"

 

She is standing right in the middle of a crowd of kids. She quicks grabs hold of two, grabbing them by the wrists and holding them up. 

 

"Come out, Ghost, you unfaithful bastard! Come out and explain how you could cheat on me with that fairy bitch!"

 

She is holding a young Raven and Lady Liberty... Carrie.

[Heritage]

GRIMALKIN 

 

"Oh shit," Lynn muttered, and she abruptly disappeared from view. She hoped all eyes were on the villainess holding two children hostage (sweet little Carrie!) so they wouldn't notice her vanishing act. Even though she was no longer visible, Casper soon felt her warm, strong hand grip his arm, and heard her calm, firm voice in his ear.

 

"I'm right here, baby. Who is she and what does she want? Also what kinds of powers does she have, and does she have any known weaknesses?"

[RocketLord]

GHOST

 

Casper freezes. He stares at the woman, but, more importantly the children that she's holding. 

 

Banshee. 

 

What the hell is she doing here? Why now? This was exactly what shouldn't happen, exactly why Carrie is living with Jessica and not him, exactly what he... what he can't...

 

He's entirely frozen. He doesn't notice that Lynn disappears, until she holds around him and whispers in his ear.

 

She's right. Think things through. Handle this. Save Carrie.

 

"Banshee. She calls herself Banshee. She used to come at me, convinced that we're meant to be together, but I haven't seen her in years. I thought she retired. She was always off, but she sounds worse. Crazy."

 

Breathe. He doesn't have time to change, not right now. 

 

"Her powers are a lot mine. The whole ghost thing and all that, and she's vulnerable to cold, too, but she also got this scream. It's like, I don't know... like she cuts through your mind?"

 

He steps forward. Lynn is there. Hopefully she'll pic up on what he's trying to do.

 

"Carrie!" he shouts. "Let the kids go! Now!"

[RocketLord]

GM

 

Banshee looks around, while the kids both struggle against her grip.

 

"Settle down or I'll hurt you, kids. I don't care about you." She falls silent for a moment, looking almost wistful, or at least as much as her expression can be read. "I just want Ghost!" she suddenly screams, violently janking the kids around.

 

The boy cries out in pain, Carrie screams too. "Quit it! Let go! Dad! Miss Lynn!" she screams out, as she's yanked back and forth.

[Heritage]

Grimalkin(?)

 

Casper heard a sharp intake of breath, then heard Grim's whispered voice one more time.

 

"I'm gonna try and buy us some time. Get Carrie and the other girl safe. I love you."

 

He then felt a quick but intense kiss on his cheek, moist with invisible tears, and then a slight breeze as his fae girlfriend rushed away.

 

Suddenly, from behind a cheerfully-decorated gingerbread bread house stepped the hero of the common people, the friendly neighborhood Ghost! The masked hero called out to Banshee, his tone jocular, but underneath it was a cold rage.

 

 "Well, well, well, if it isn't the ghastly and glamorous Banshee! Lady, we have got to stop meeting like this!"

 

Ghost!Grim crossed his arms and indicated Casper with a nod of his head.

 

"Why don't you do what the nice man says and let the kids go? You've got my undivided attention, sweetheart; I'm not going anywhere."

Edited Tuesday at 04:03 AM by Heritage

[RocketLord]

GHOST

 

Buy time? Casper feels the quick kiss, and, tears?

 

What is she going to do?

 

If not for the situation, Csaper would laugh. Lynn's spot on with the impression, but, is it good enough? Banshee has stalked him long enough, and she got that weird sense. And she's dangerous. Not someone to take lightly, especially while she got the kids.

 

While the other parents around them are either standing by, holding their kids back or running away to get themselves and the kids out of their way, Casper Church begins to sneak forward, a look of grim determination in his eyes. No one is looking at him... He'll only get one shot, as he reaches into his jacket and slowly pulls out a white mask and a pair of goggles...

[RocketLord]

GM

 

"Ghost...?" Banshee asks. Her attention is caught completely, she doesn't care about anyone but Ghost in this moment. 

 

The kids struggle, but she holds on to them, still unwilling to let go.

 

"You... Why did you do it!?" Her voice builds up to a scream. Rage and passion. "Running around with that hussy Grimalkin! I thought we had something special!"

 

She doesn't even notice Casper, only focused on Ghost... as is the young Raven.

 

As for the Lady Liberty in her hands, however... Carrie looks at Casper, noticing what he has in his hands... "Dad?"