dolcetto o scherzetto; ota

[prontissimo]

WHO: Alberto and Luca, any other kids, and any grownup halloweeners!
WHERE: Around town, downtown shops and residential areas
WHEN: Halloween night 🎃
WHAT: TRICK-OR-TREATING, give us kendy :V
WARNINGS: tutto bene! 👌


[ This is Luca and Alberto's first Halloween. And they're pumped. Alberto's worked on his costume for weeks, and it likewise took him hours to put it on... But in the end, it came out exactly as he'd envisioned (or so he's boasting) and he's feeling supremely chuffed with himself — and quite literally so, since he's dressed as... himself. In a way... Alberto's trick-or-treating dressed as a sea monster. But not actually transformed — after all, it'd be annoying if he had keep getting wet all night long, and that'd steal from valuable candy time. No, he's made himself a sea monster costume of his own true form, still looking very much human beneath it... And however chuffed he is with himself and his, uh, self... it's probably a little unsettling to behold, frankly.

He's painted his whole face, neck and shoulders with elaborate, scaly, purple makeup, and has covered his whole head with paper "frills" clipped into his hair, which periodically keep falling off throughout the night, much to his annoyance. He found some purple webbed gloves at Spirit Halloween, and made himself some flippers to wear over his shoes. He even looked up a cosplay tutorial to make fake fangs. And, highlighting his favorite feature, he's sewn himself a long spiny tail worn on a belt under his clothes. Anyone who's seen Alberto wet will recognize immediately that he's supposed to look like him, which will surely be equal parts disturbing and ridiculous. He thinks it's the most hilarious thing he's ever done in his life, though.

He and Luca (schoolingfish) come as a pair tonight, naturally. And for his part, Luca is dressed as a horrific deep sea fish creature. He's dressed in all black with silvery webbed gloves just like Alberto's, and his own hand-sewn, spiny, iridescent silver tail on a belt — for an added fishy effect. They made Luca's many fangs from polymer clay and fitted the wire jaw piece to sit over his ears, which are covered with hand-sewn spiny ear-fins to match his tail. His dark makeup is splattered strategically with shiny blue markings lacing across his face and neck, lending an extra creepy effect, not unlike the stitches on Frankenstein's monster — just inspired instead by the natural horrors of the ocean. Luca donned some black contact lenses from Spirit Halloween and clipped a book light to a headband, and then bam: undersea nightmare fuel. Far scarier than Alberto's cheeky inside joke of a costume.

It's just as elaborate as Alberto's, though, because the two of them both jumped on this opportunity to flex their creative skills. However, successful as they were, their inspiration was a little misguided... The boys made them under the impression that their costumes should represent their own true deepest fears. So Luca, being most afraid to be banished to live in the deep sea, chose to embody how horrifying that place must be. Alberto claims he's not afraid of anything, except the very reasonable fear of being publicly exposed as a sea monster and, y'know, murdered by humans. So: he chose to dress publicly as a sea monster! But since he really doesn't want to be exposed and murdered by humans, ahem, merely mimicking his true form is much safer. And much funnier. He's going to be sniggering all night...

But strange as their costumes are, they do look rather cute beside each other with their matching aquatic monster theme, and matching ear-fin-to-ear-fin grins, practically buzzing with energy and enthusiasm at every trick-or-treating spot. Their candy-fueled excitement only builds as the night goes on; they've never had this much sugar at once... I-It's a lot for their poor little fishy selves. ]

Trick or treeeeat~!

Comments

[schrodingersghost]

Danny had decided to stay home tonight and hand out the candy, since his parents wouldn't be home. And since this was the last chance, he'd put on his bedsheet ghost costume. Because it was hilarious, okay. No one would expect an actual ghost to dress up as a ghost for Halloween.

He swings open the door, and grins at the two familiar faces he sort of recognized under the costumes. They get a thumbs up.

"Hey guys! Nice costumes."

[prontissimo]

Since Alberto hadn’t met Danny at his home to pick up the astronomy books he’d gifted them, he has no clue whose house they’re at, and so it takes Alberto a second to register just who is under the sheet. He leans forward (as if that’ll help??) as he inspects the eyeholes in the sheet dubiously, narrowing his own eyes with a shrewd, discerning look. The person’s tone implies it’s someone they know, and the voice sounds familiar, but— who…? He nevertheless accepts the compliment. Because he’ll never deny a compliment.

“Thaaank you…~? We’re sea monsters. And yooou’re a—? Mysterious bedsheet-person…? Haha…?”

He speaks with a taut, awkward, singsongy tone. He’s still woefully ignorant of a lot of pop culture, so the sheet ghost trope is lost on him. It doesn’t register as ‘ghost’ to him compared to a real ghost like La Llorona. But, well, it’s, um— a creative choice. No judgment. Maybe the guy’s afraid of sleeping…? That’s his best guess. Because he’s still assuming all the costumes represent the wearer’s deepest fears… Oy vey…

[schoolingfish]

"Maybe he's supposed to just be a sheet or a bed or something? But who's afraid of sheets?"

Or beds? He's completely confused by this costume. So he decides to shift to conversation back to their own costumes.

"But thanks! Alberto and I worked together on these!"

[schrodingersghost]

"Oh, right." Danny laughs and pulls the sheet off, showing that underneath he was wearing a hoodie with a cartoon ghost logo. Look, when he decided to do this, he decided to commit.

"Its a joke. The bedsheet ghost is the most low effort and obviously fake ghost costume ever."

[prontissimo]

"Ohhhh...!"

He nods like he gets it. He doesn't get it. He doesn't see the resemblance between a ghost and this. But he's going along with it.

"Nice. Ghost. Ha. Cuz of your ghost stuff."

Alberto hasn't yet mentioned to Danny the fact that they're actually sea monsters in disguise, not just disguised as sea monsters... Y'know, how does that come up in conversation, after all, right? So he while he's tempted to draw the parallel between what they're doing with their costumes, he's not sure if this is the moment to casually drop this surprise. So instead he just keeps the focus on Danny and throws a wary glance to Luca, giving the tiniest little shrug.

"He's got ghost stuff going on."

Sufficient explanation on your behalf, Danny, you're welcome. Very gracefully handled.

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki has never handed out Halloween candy before. But he has a house now so he figured maybe this year he should. He didn't get too crazy with the decorations. But he has a projection spotlight set up. And he's in costume tonight.

He's just been opening the door, shoving a handful of assorted candy at each trick or treater and calling it good. But he has to pause when he sees these two. It doesn't take long to work out what he's looking at. Or who he's looking at.]

What the hell? You two really went all out, huh?

[And because he's never seen Luca fully transformed...]

This what your other form looks like, Dimes?

[schoolingfish]

Dimes?

[Is that his new nickname now? And why?]

And no. I based my costume on my uncle. He's scarier so I thought it would work better for my costume. Also dressing up like him gives us a built in flashlight!

[He points to the light on his head.]

[prontissimo]

Hey, wait— I’m Nickels, so he’s Dimes? Dimes cost more than nickels!

[ Dimes are worth more than nickels, but even if his phrasing’s off, his meaning’s understandable — like so many other slightly “off” things he says in the human world… Excuse him, though, as he tries to work out if he should feel ruffled by this. He’s come to accept his own name as Nickels, considering, hey, counting out a hundred nickels from a sock full of coins in the forest does seem kind of funny to him in hindsight now… But Alberto’s often low-key ready to feel slighted, frankly. If it were anyone but Luca, he’d make a bigger stink; but really, with the esteem he holds Luca in, he can concede to his own nickname “costing less” than Luca’s. Probably a fair assessment on some level… not that he’d ever admit to that, of course. So for now all Katsuki gets is facetious offense, just for the laughs. ]

[callmekacchan]

Matching nicknames.

[No further explanation given. Instead he holds a bowl of candy bars out. And then seems to think of something and pulls it back again for a moment.]

Can you guys eat chocolate?

[He doesn't actually know what seamonsters can and can't eat so...]

[schoolingfish]

[That explanation was enough to satisfy Luca who absolutely would have argued against being worth more than Alberto. However, he'd also figured there were plenty of other explanations it could have been, like dimes being physically smaller. Luca starts to reach for the candy when Katsuki realizes something and pulls it back.]

Yeah, we can eat chocolate. Why wouldn't we be able to?

[It hadn't occurred to Luca yet that he wouldn't be able to eat something that humans could eat.]

closed to Amity, Luca, and Luz;

[prontissimo]

[ Naturally, the boys hit up Luz and Amity to be their trick-or-treating partners. Alberto'd already jazzed Luz up about their elaborate Halloween costumes, and has been just as much looking forward to seeing what the girls' came up with. They're still interpreting everyone's costumes as representing their deepest fears, though, so that will lend an interesting new lens on his friends tonight...

But Alberto knows how creative Luz is, how much Luz likes Halloween, and how much Luz likes candy — so he figures she's the perfect human guide for the whole lot of them! What's more, he's still determined to win Amity over, so tonight being such a fun, festive night is sure to do the trick, right? Right.

The boys meet up with the girls outside the Owlery, their point in common and a good in between for their trick-or-treating trail. They're actually a little early, in fact — just cuz they're so ready to get down to sweet candy business. So when the girls come out at the agreed upon time, the boys are already waiting there with their empty candy buckets, both turning and beaming at them right away. Wayyy too much energy, guys... Dial it back, Albertino. ]

Ciao~! Ready, ragazze?!

[bossy_boots]

[Howwwwwwww had she gotten talked into this? Well, it had been fairly easy, in the end - Luz was creative, Luz loved Halloween, ad she loved candy. Which Amity had already pretty much consumed, so getting her a new stash? Bit of a priority.]

[That being said, she's going to make an entrance. Because she can. She's not her mother, but she's still a Blight, and Blights never do anything half way. Besides, Luz is going to be watching, and she oh so very carefully kept her costume a secret until now.] So the first inkling that she's actually there, ready go go, is a bright purple flash of smoke - very carefully arranged as a potion, thank you very much - which when it clears will reveal her, sitting on her floating palisman staff.]

[She's come as a witch. Because she can be one here, openly. The main component is a black dress with long sleeves which flair into lighter, gossamer cobweb-styled sleeves, a double row of buttons down the front. Add to that a flowing skirt and buckled shoes (to say nothing of the apparently traditional striped knee-socks!) - and, of course, a dark purple cape.]

[But lastly, there's the hat. An extensive, tall hat, festooned with magic symbols. She's looking good, feeling confident - and for the first time in this place getting to openly be a witch.]

Always ready.

[schoolingfish]

[While Luca doesn't have any concept of how a witch would dress from home, thankfully he's seen enough Halloween imagery to know what she's doing.]

Wow, that dress is so pretty! So you're a witch and we're sea monsters!

[Both in costumes and in reality. He figures she's probably doing something like Alberto. Maybe she's afraid of being discovered as a witch just like Alberto and he are afraid of being discovered as sea monsters...though the Deep was an even bigger fear for Luca.]

[a_cute_batata]

Could Luz keep back her squeal of awe? Of course not! While she loved Luca's costume, seeing her girlfriend decked out in such amazing fair was nothing short of spectacular! What could Luz possibly be wearing that could compare?

Well.

Luz had looked into a lot of interesting outfits and characters in Kaisou and finally came upon a costume that had such a cool look Luz HAD to give it a try! She even managed to dye her hair blue to complete it, though she had Owlbert as a staff, because no way would she be keeping him out of Halloween fun!

Alberto! Luca! You guys looks great!

[She gave hugs all around, and then turned her eyes to her girlfriend].

Mi preciosa. Looking amazing, as usual!

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto also cannot contain himself at Amity's entrance. His eyes go wide as soon as the smoke appears, and his face lights up more and more with every second. He grasps both his hands to his cheeks, overwhelmed with how impressive that was, which just builds as he blurts out his compliment with a little excited stamp of his feet. ]

Hoooly sharks, Amity, thatwassostinkin'cool!

[ Well, the important bit was clear... "Stinkin' cool." Brava, Amity — definitely got the fanfare she wanted and deserves.

He hugs Luz back, faux-fanged grin stuck on his painted face now. He leans back and gives her the once-over, examining her costume now. He gestures at her up and down, beaming still, deservedly impressed (even without a cloud of smoke) by her handiwork as well. ]

Luz, che fantastica! Wow, your hair! Did Amity kill it for you? I love it!

[ H-He means "dye..." They had a rather serious miscommunication about Amity's haircare their first conversation... It's still not been cleared up, apparently. ]

You look cool. Are you a, uh— ...What're you?

[couldntsaveone]

Cool!

That would be someone calling up from one of the buildings above them. As they're looking up, someone comes jumping down from the roof. He lands without harm, grinning at them. He hasn't met either of them in person yet but he's talked to both of them before, even if they don't recognize each other.

What are you guys supposed to be?? Are dressed up for this Halloween thingamajig, too?

He's still trying to figure out what this is all about but he's loving all the costumes and thinks it's really neat.

[schoolingfish]

We're dressed as sea monsters! And yeah, we are! I'm guessing you didn't find out about it in time to get your own costume?

[He might not have any idea who this person is, but whoever this is is friendly so he'll be friendly right back.]

[prontissimo]

Holy sharks!

[ Alberto is startled when Luffy jumps down, clinging to Luca theatrically; he was not expecting random guys to appear from above...! What an entrance, though. He quickly lets go of Luca, shifting his weight to stand with his hand on his hip and feigning smooth confidence right away, like that little blip didn't just happen. What's more, his smile really is giving way to how impressive that just was, now that he's registered what the shell is happening. He smirks at Luffy as Luca answers, something discerning in his eyes — like Luffy just passed major a vibe test by jumping off the roof of a stinkin' building to come talk to them. Once Luffy answers Luca's question, Alberto interjects: ]

Hey, nice falling...!

[ O-Or jumping... Most people might say jumping. Same difference. Gravity, you know. ]

[couldntsaveone]

You guys look amazing! I love your costumes! You must have worked really hard on them!

Luffy is pure, gushing exuberance and it's clear that he means every word. He really does think they have super cool, amazing costumes.

I heard about it but I didn't really get what people meant!

Still don't really understand all this but it's really cool, anyway. And then I get to meet you two cool guys, so that's awesome!

More praise. He really does like their costumes. He'll be more impressed to learn that they basically made everything from scratch.

Thanks! I'm really good at it. You should see my gum gum balloon, some time!

[schoolingfish]

It's like you when you jumped off that tower to show me gravity!

[Or Luca when he jumped off that same tower. He still doesn't have a great grasp on how bad gravity could really go, though, so it seems reasonable that someone might be able to jump from the roof. Although remembering how much it stung when he hit the ground that one time, he suspects this guy probably hurt his feet doing that.]

Thanks! We did work really hard on these! And now that you know, maybe you'll be able to have a costume by next year.

[Wait, gum gum balloon?]

What's a gum gum balloon?

FINALLY TAGS THIS im ok w multi-

[suzume_odori]

This way..!! This way, there's more candy..!!

[If anyone expected Suzume to not trick or treat, well!

She seems to be some sort of cake princess, if cake princesses were also a brilliant violet with wild demonic hair. Demon cake princess?

The candy bag is floating. Don't worry about it. She's not, after all- she's worrying about chasing her fishy friend and whoever else might be with him at the t...

Time!?!] AAA...

[Alberto!?!? Alberto!?!] You're only half fishy..!!!

[HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!]

I am too!! time is an illusion, tag me whenever hehe

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto turns to her when he hears her almost call out his name, but more because all she manages is the "AAA—" and it worries him. Then he recognizes her as she runs up, relieved it's no one in trouble, buuut — also amused at how she phrased her take on his costume. He grins down at her, hands on his hips. ]

Ehiii, ciao, stellina! Che bella! Heh. I'm a sea monster, yeah. But wow— Look at you!

[ What you say when you have no clue what to say. What is her costume...? To his untrained eye, he hasn't the foggiest. But she looks cute. Funny! But cute. After taking a second to register her wild costume, Alberto does notice the bag of candy floating by itself behind her. His eyes go wide, face a little taut for a split second as his smile falters, but he musters it right back, throwing a suave smile and a polite nod toward the empty space. ]

Hoshi... Ciao...

[ This is the realest proof he's ever seen of Hoshi. Best to be polite. Don't ask questions. ]

[schoolingfish]

[Only half fishy? Said like he'd normally be all fishy?]

Yeah, these are our costumes.

[Just to let her know they weren't walking around as sea monsters.]

Alberto, is this the little girl you told me about?

[The one who knows Alberto is a sea monster, he means.]

softly, the joke is the kujos are actually 1/4 italian hgjkhfg

[suzume_odori]

But there's only half....

[At least it can be interpreted as 'half finished'? Suzume seems intent on circling the two, just to double check. What nonsense is this..?? Hmmm. HMMMMMM.

(Hoshi notably has no response that can really be seen. Or heard, not that it'd be anything anyone understands given that case.

The bag of candy does seem to shift...A little though?? ...Definitely don't ask.)

Time to gasp at Luca though! Because unlike Someone, there's ALL FISH (costume) HERE!] Mnnh..! I like your teeth...! They're um....

[She tries to make some kind of motion. It does not work. Mostly she just sort of fans her hands a little, like a teeny baby Italian still trying to work out what hand gestures actually are.]

Big and shiny..! And chompy...

ehiii paesana

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto titters a little as she circles them, making sure to highlight his fake tail, watching her discerning face and gestures with amusement. He nods at Luca's question, throwing him a warm, sly look to silently comment on Suzume's funny antics. ]

Heh, cool, huh? We made his teeth ourselves!

[ He crouches down on one knee to be at better level with the girl, rather than just staring down at her from on high at 5'4"... This is much better for making proper introductions, he figures. ]

Suzume, this is my best friend, Luca. He doesn't always look like this, but normally he is just like me...

[ He gives her a knowing look so as to say Luca's a sea monster too, tossing his gaze toward the unseen Hoshi just the same for good measure. ]

And Luca, this is the girl I told you about, yeah — may I introduce Principessa Suzume...

[ He has no idea if she's supposed to be a princess with this wild outfit. He's seen a couple princesses in movies and such, who did not look like that... But he's lived in the human world long enough to gather that little girls tend to like princesses, so he's going with it. ]