Event Log: Beetlejuice

[hadrielmods]

Who: Everyone participating in the event!
What: The event log for the Beetlejuice event!
Where: All around the city
When: August 13th-August 18th
Warnings: Scary stories to tell in the dark! Maybe a few goosebumps? Taking a walk or two down Fear Street.

When you wake up on the morning of August 13th - well, you'll notice that morning just doesn't really happen. The light that usually illuminates the cave doesn't start coming on, leaving things as dark as night. As if that's not enough, the light switches don't seem to work either. No matter how many times you flip them, the lights won't come on, although mysteriously the other appliances work as normal.

Afraid of the dark? Don't worry! You have oh-so-kindly been provided with lanterns, candles, and flashlights that sure do love to flicker just when you least want to be terrified. Hey, it's something, right?

Just as you begin to realize the artificial 'sun' isn't coming up, Fear appears to make an announcement to the network. What's not fun about scary stories when you're stuck in a dark cave surrounded by monsters? Nothing, that's what! So have fun, everyone - terrify your friends with that story about a cactus filled with spiders, try that classic scarecrow-falling-from-the-ceiling prank. It'll be a good time for everyone, especially Fear! We're sure no one will hold anything against you. On the morning of August 18th, the lights will finally come on as usual. Let's hope you don't have any nightmares!

► This log covers August 13th-August 18th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you scare yourself to death, please let us know here!

Comments

sans | delight's bar | ota, will match format

[skelebro]

[The bar is pretty much a universal safe space, right? Eh, close enough. There's candles and the like set up around the area, likely pilfered from various shops, just enough to create some low-level atmosphere lighting.

And in center stage - metaphorically speaking, anyway - out steps a skeleton. He's got a microphone on a stand, and he taps it a few times with the tip of his phalanx. Then, on closer examination, you might realize, hang on, that's no microphone. And it's not! He's shoved a hotdog there instead in lieu of an actual microphone. But there's something about it that just completes the whole picture, y'know?

He clears his nonexistent throat, peers out into the crowd in a motion that's mostly for show, and begins.]

So, it's become pretty fear to me that someone - now, I'm not namin' any names - seems real interested in watchin' us spooky story each other 'till the cows come home. Now, anyone can probably tell ya that this ain't really my area. Pranks? Yeah. Scary ghost stories?

[He makes a noncommittal, wiggly hand gesture.]

Eh. But anyway, I'm gettin' off-topic. I've heard that some people here have got a soft spot for some quality jokes. And when's a better time for that than now? No time like the present, right?

[That's right, folks. Sans is going to do stand-up.

Watch his performance, enjoy the jokes, heckle the bejeezus out of him, or just mingle about while he does his best to manufacture a relatively low-key, relaxed atmosphere where none has any business existing. He's going to be calling for audience participation for sure, and he'll be here all week!]

[somuchlove]

[So here's one for you Sans: a kid walks into a bar that they're probably not supposed to be in. But at least they won't touch the alcohol. That's what the energy drink they've got on the table is for. They totally don't feel a bit jittery.

But a bar calls for entertainment, entertainment can call for bad jokes and bad jokes always called for Sans in some way, shape or form. Chara is comfortably seated - after checking the seat this time because they know him - and just smiling and enjoying their drink. And not breaking eye contact with the skeleton if they can help it.

Them being there is probably not enough to throw Sans off whatever planned routine he has. But that wasn't the point to begin with. They were bored. Sans suggested they tried things. So here they are.

And are about to heckle the hell out of him. So let's hear some laughs, Mr Funny Bones =)]

[skelebro]

[His eyesockets rove over the assembled seating, assessing the crowd. And - ah. Yes. There they are. He anticipated one or both of them showing up, but here they are, gracing him with their illustrious presence. Smiling at him and drinking - aw, geez, do they really need something caffeinated on top of everything else?

At least it ain't alcohol. Who knows how that would go down.

Still, he soldiers bravely on despite being neither brave nor a soldier, thoroughly nonplussed. Maybe mostly nonplussed. The percentage of nonplussing is higher than the plussing at this point. It's a bit of a glass 75% full kind of deal.]

So what've we got today, huh? We've got our one and only Fear bein' the gracious host he always is, and givin' us some pretty spectacular mood lighting. Real heck of a guy, huh? Let's hear it for him. Or, I'm sorry, let's fear it for the god of the hour, yeah?

[Pause for applause and/or laughter, assuming it comes.]

Fear's all about anecdotes and the like, ain't he? So I figure I'd give it a shot, just for him.

[somuchlove]

[Chara applauds before calling out--]

How kind of you! An anecdote of LOVE, betrayal and humerus jokes? Or will you tell us a spooky story, Mr Skeleton? I bet you cannot top Fear's fantastic tale.

[It's not much but they want to get the ball rolling. That last crack wasn't actually about Sans at least. Fear's story was just that bad.]

[skelebro]

Spooks? Nah.

[He winks in their direction, confidentially. This dumpy, foolish, prankster-ing skeleton? A spookster? 'Course not. No spooks here. Right?]

I will say, much as I love the guy - [And there's another wink at you, Chara, just for pun.] - Fear's stories ain't exactly what I'd call top-caliber. Stuff about a kid's heart beatin' in a wall? I mean, sure, it's a bit weird, but the delivery was all off. Not enough suspense, not enough lead-up, not enough of a twist, y'know?

And I'm not just sayin' that to be difficult, y'know? Delivery's a key aspect in this sorta thing! And as it is, I'm not sure I'd trust Fear to be so much as a mailroom boy, amiright folks?

[somuchlove]

[They could call Sans out on the spooks thing but something...interesting is happening right now.]

I agree! And child murder is a bit cliche. Not enough blood, one out of ten.

[Chara is somewhat serious about that. It sounded like cheesy junk you'd tell around a campfire. Not exactly something that'd have a normal person quaking in their boots in a dark murdercave.]

Ah, but Sans! If Fear lacks the delivery then what can he do? Maybe he can Delight us all and become a busboy!

[skelebro]

[Oh boy. Yeah, they'd know all about murder and blood and whatnot. Humans are just full of those drippy fluids and liquid matter. It's amazing how they're able to exist as solid things at all, given how much of them is made up of water.]

Well, whaddaya know, we got ourselves a Junior Comedian over here!

[Wouldn't have pegged them for someone to appreciate wordplay. Shit, but that just complicates things a bit, don't it? People who appreciate bad jokes can't be all that bad except, heh heh, when they are.]

Nah, see, ol' Fear can't be a busboy. Timing is everything when you're a busboy, and Fear seems to lack a little - punctuality.

[/rimshot]

[circumitus]

Goddammit, and he here all week.

At some point, Sans will be making his routine while Rey happens to be present, attempting to enjoy a drink on the rocks next to a candlelight and relative peace. Her only saving grace is that she is on the far end of the room, in a quiet little corner, where she seems herself too far to notice.

It's an annoyance at first. But then--

Is that... a hotdog?

She squints to make sure, and confirms her suspicion: This skeleton man is fucking insane.

What does that say about her, however, that she happens to be listening to a crazy skeleton doing standup in a dark bar on a shady week? Or that the insanity of the whole situation is just so absurd that it elicits a tiny smile on her otherwise straight-faced visage? Is this real life?

[skelebro]

Damn right it's a hotdog. He's knocking them out like usual, to the general symphony of pity-chuckles or groans and the occasional surprised laughter when he lands a good one, when he catches a glimpse of one of those out-of-the-way sorts, you know the type, the type that stay as far back from his routine as possible and pretend they're not listening when they totally, totally are.

More importantly, he catches her smiling.

If that ain't an invitation to get her in on this, he doesn't know what is.

"Hey, I saw that! You tellin' me you're actually enjoying some of these jokes? Ladies, gentlemen, any and all variations thereupon: someone get me a mattress to faint onto, stat. I am shocked. I am appalled. This is a bone-ified rarity."

He'd make a joke about dying happy, but that might be in bad taste. For someone.

[circumitus]

She totally is, providing the skeleton with her undivided attention despite not making eye contact most of the time.

This changes when Sans calls her out, though. Tearing her eyes from the flickering flame, Rey veers her attention to the makeshift 'stage' that their little performer has made for himself.

"Seems we're all out of mattresses here," Rey says from across the room. "Might one suggest the Trust Game?"

Assuming that skeletons wouldn't just fall to pieces of he ends up hitting the floor.

[skelebro]

Funnily enough (or not funnily enough, depending on your grasp and appreciation of dramatic irony), the actual outcome of such an act on his part isn't terribly far off. 1 HP doesn't leave you with a whole lot of room for error, so to speak.

"Trust game. Hmm." He appears to consider the possibility for a few seconds, scratching the base of his jaw. "I dunno how much anyone wants to catch this old bag of bones. I'm told I'm pretty heavy for a skeleton - must be all those hot dogs."

Almost completely as an afterthought, he starts to munch on the 'dog he's got in hand. Somehow, anyway - his mouth doesn't open, but he's certainly chowing down on it with a projected nonchalance.

"Or maybe," he says around a mouthful of 'dog, "I'm just worth the weight."

[circumitus]

"You can't possibly be that heavy."

Coming from the woman who looks like she can make chop suey out of a concrete wall just by punching it, there is some merit to her confidence.

It takes her a moment to properly process the humor in the line he had just delivered, though. "Oh, that was a weight joke, wasn't it?"

Slowly she is catching on. It's not like she's been to that many comedy clubs in her lifetimes -- or any for that matter.

[skelebro]

"'Course it was." Little slow on the uptake - that's fine. He's worked with a lot worse, like a kid whose default expression seems to be the equivalent of three lines dashed across an otherwise quite blank and placid face.

He takes another chomp of his 'dog with effected nonchalance, shifting his weight onto one leg so he can prop the other up on its heel, the toe of his pink slipper stuck carelessly stuck in the air.

"I mean, my brother's always on me to get out more. Says I'm puttin' on too many bones on my bones. But I'll have you know I am a very dedicated exerciser. Why, just the other day I took two whole steps to make it from the bed to the couch!"

Re: sans | delight's bar | ota, will match format

[heartintheflames]

Rin is still getting used to exploring the town, and trying to find his friends in this darkness. Admittedly, and obviously, he is underage to be walking into a bar. But he's not the sort that's inclined to drink, though he might accept willingly if someone were to offer.

The candles give a nice glow and seem fairly calming, if anything. Rin's not easily afraid of the dark, after all. Interestingly, he sees what looks like a skeleton tapping a hotdog on a microphone stand. As he listens to the skeleton talk, he's kind of curious to see where this will go. If he's speaking into a hotdog, he's got to be funny, right?

Curiously, he takes a seat to watch. Jokes over scary stories? Yes, please!

"Yea, alright!" Rin cheers, awaiting the performance, not really caring how loud he is or if he might be the only one cheering.

[skelebro]

Enthusiasm? In his routine? It's more likely than you think!

Sans grins in Rin's direction, pointing at him cheerfully.

"Yeah, see, this guy knows what's up! Show hasn't even started yet and he's just excited to be here! That's some real dedication right there." And then, without missing a beat, he addresses him directly, "what's your name, kiddo?"

[heartintheflames]

No way! I got noticed? Sweet! It's totally like being on TV, or meeting a celebrity!

"Rin Okumura!" he cries out excitedly. Hey, maybe he'll make me part of the show! The boy can only hope, that would be so badass! "I bet this will be so cool!"

Careful, Rin, your fangirl-side is starting to show, and the attention might go to your head.

[skelebro]

"You bet it will, kid." He winks in the guy's direction, the non-flexible nature of bone notwithstanding. "You're Rin for a real treat."

Rin's real lucky. Or, conversely, real unlucky - "Rin" is a spectacularly easy name to form name-based wordplay off of, and that serves Sans's purposes just fine.

[heartintheflames]

Rin can't help but laugh at the usage of his name. He'll take being punned over being shunned.

"C'mon, hit me with your best shot!" Rin cheers for more. Go ahead Sans, he can take all the pun-ishment you can dish out. You seem like a great-humoured guy. Jokes are great, and laughter is the best medicine.

[skelebro]

"Y'see, folks? This guy knows what's up! Look, he's even excited to be here!"

Faux-confidentially, he adds in Rin's general direction, "I'd say lower your standards, but they must be pretty low if you're laughin' at this bag of bones. Unless you already Rin there, done that."

[funnybird]

[ That cackling and hooting sound coming from the audience?

That's easily-amused Crow. ]

Fear to me! Haa! Ohhh, that's good!

[ It only took one pun to get him to this point, Sans. Please don't kill him with laughter tonight. ]

[skelebro]

[There's a bird laughing at his jokes, which is a rather unique turn of events - not because it's a bird, mind (plenty of his close friends are birds), but because his amusement appears to be one hundred percent genuine.

And Sans loves an audience that can appreciate well-thought-out jokes.]

You sir, are a corvid of good taste! Birds of a feather, am I right?

[funnybird]

Oh, jeez... [ Wiping those tears on a wing, trying not to burst into laughter again. ]

Phew, you got that right! I thought my jokes were good, but you're so humerus!

[ ... ]

Pffft-

[ Okay, laughing again. ]

[skelebro]

What'd I tell ya?

[Bird puns, bone puns - they pair of them are lethal together, how 'bout that?]

You should be up here with me! I mean, I'll be winging it either way.

[funnybird]

Hahaa! But this is your show! And I don't have— [ Snort. ] —a bone to pick with you!

[ brb, dying. ]

[skelebro]

[Man, he could do this forever, this serial back-and-forth of skeletal wordplay. And even better, this bird seems to be enjoying the crap out of it, which is more than he can say for a lot of his shows.]

C'mon, you never heard of a double-act? Beak-cause you're givin' me a real run for my money, here.