video; after new arrivals

[sos_pilot]

Hey hey, party people! For all you new cats and kittens, the name's Della Duck! And... someday I will think of a less embarrassing way to introduce myself. Not today.

Anyway! I know time's on a big pause button or whatever back home, but if it wasn't, you know what my world would be celebrating later this month? Only the best holiday ever made - Halloween! Dressing up in costumes, free candy, and scaring the pants off everyone! If you wear pants, anyway.

I know world-hopping and all those kinda shenanigans make celebrating holidays harder, but... it's Halloween. We gotta at least try. It'll be on the last day of the month, so, plenty of time to prepare if you wanna chip in! We need to use one of the big carriage, gotta make a lot of sweets, and go to town on stitching up costumes.

Now, for those of you who have no idea what Halloween is... you've got my sympathies, I'm so sorry. But here are some highlights!

One -  Haunted Houses. Again, can't go the extra mile 'cause... train. BUT I'm sure we can come pretty close! Things popping out at you, spooky noises, fear pumping through your veins!

Two - Trick or Treating. Usually this is for the little kids. They go from house to house, knock and say "Trick or Treat!" and then get candy. Still no houses, but I say who needs 'em! If a kid says it on that special day, we should have plenty of candy to go around for the tykes... or for the tykes at heart.

Three - COSTUMES! Be someone or something you're not! The sky's the limit! This year I had planned to go on "matching opposites" costumes with my twin brother, like we did when we were younger - I'd be a devil, he'd be an angel - but since he's not around, what will I be? That's a surprise. Cause I haven't thought of it yet.

If you've got any questions, or suggestions, lemme know! Let's make this the best Halloween the train's ever had!

Comments

[Audio]

[sos_pilot]

Okay, first off? Downy better not be an insult in your world, cause that's my grandma's name, and I will throw down in her honor.

But fine, if you wanna get into the mythology and all that - it originally started out as a way to get rid of ghosts and spirits, using lights in jack-o-lanterns to ward them off, and wearing costumes to fool them.

[Audio]

[theturksway]

...it means fluffy. Downy feathers? [It's basically his way of saying 'doll' or 'sweetheart' but more unique for her since she's a duck! He likes giving people nicknames, unique ones if he can. She would know if he was going for insulting. Also, he likes her but shhh.] ...that really her name? Heh. Cute.

See that makes some sense! Although I doubt it worked unless magic was involved. But hey, if you wanna throw a costume party just because you're afraid of some ghosts... by all means.

[Audio]

[sos_pilot]

Downy McDuck, matriarch of the proud McDuck clan! ... But she can be pretty adorable, so you're good.

And fear is the best part about Halloween! Everyone's afraid of something, and this is the way to draw it out!

[Audio]

[theturksway]

Huh. Well I'll be... [He sounds amused by this family information.]

...In my experience, people tend not to like to be scared by others on purpose. [His experience being to cause it to keep people in line. Like a freakin' yakuza enforcer.]

[Audio]

[sos_pilot]

In my world, some people PAY for that experience - you guys don't have horror films?

1/2

[theturksway]

Well, yeah, but--

[That wasn't what had first come to mind.]

Never mind.

2/2

[theturksway]

So, a costume party, huh? There gonna be an adult's only after-party?

[Mostly a joke? But he'd love some booze with his candy if there's gonna be a party.]

[sos_pilot]

Tempting, but I think we've got more of those "I'm so totally grown and mature and I will absolutely sneak into the adults party" kids than we could handle if we did that.

[theturksway]

Heh. So let 'em. Gotta learn some time, right?

[Look, he's not much of an adult despite his age, okay. Also that was...probably entirely the way he learned.]

[sos_pilot]

I'm all for tough love, but not for sick kids. The mom in me says no.

[theturksway]

Aaand right back to lame. [At least he sounds like he's teasing this time.] Come on. Get rid of the mom side, live a little. Ain't gonna kill nobody.

[sos_pilot]

[ Very briefly, there's a flash of genuine anger at the very notion of 'getting rid of mom side'. She then inhales deeply - after all, Reno is just teasing, and he has no clue Della unwillingly threw that side away for nearly 10 years - and is all calm again. ]

Not happening, bud. As party planner, it's my way or the high way.

[theturksway]

Yeesh. [It sounds dismissive but also not upset. It is what it is. He can always add a flask to his costume if he wants a personal party, right? Right.] All right, all right. Your party, your rules. Whatever.

[sos_pilot]

Duly noted and appreciated, my man.