Forums » Sci-Fi Roleplay » Trick or Treat: A Grelek's Halloween 🎃 (Open)

(Since I didn't see any Trick or Treat Sci-fi's here's one for anyone with Sci-fi characters)

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🎃 WELCOME TO A GRELEKS HALLOWEEN 🎃

The dim glow of Sudalorm's control panel flickered,
signaling an incoming transmission. His slitted, lizard-like nose twitched as his green eyes scanned the message from the High Elites.
The words were clear: to maintain peace with Earth's trading partners, he must participate in an event called "Halloween."

He tilted his head, confused by the concept.
The attached document was extensive, detailing human and alien customs, traditions for this particular celebration.
As he read on, his tendrils coiled tighter, curling inward with each new piece of information.
Candy, costumes, decorations, none of it made sense to him, but orders were orders.

Hours later.
Sudalorm's ship descended onto the bustling trader dock,
the air shimmering as his vessel touched down.
Around him, ships from other planets hovered in place, exchanging goods and wares.
His ship, however, would soon stand out for a different reason.

Sudalorm, with careful precision, adorned the exterior of his ship with bright, pulsating orange and purple lights that shimmered against the blackness of space.
He hung spectral figures from the other worlds, a variety of ghosts and skeletons unfamiliar to Earth's eyes,
floating eerily alongside the hull. A large "WELCOME" sign, written in multiple languages, gleamed on the side of the ship.

The interior of his ship had been transformed as well.
In the cargo bay, Sudalorm set up a long table covered with various bowls of snacks.
Earth delicacies such as candy corn and chocolate bars were mixed with treats from distant planets, like neatly wrapped candy apples that sparkled with alien dust and toasted marshmallow spiders, an otherworldly favorite. A small sign on the table read, “Take 2” in bold letters,
a tradition he had read about in the document.

Sudalorm glanced at his reflection in a metallic surface. His towering figure was cloaked in a pirate's garb, a long coat draped over blackened armor,
and a plastic sword hanging from his belt. To complete the look, a fake beard had been carefully applied to his face, despite his lack of a mouth. His green eyes blinked slowly in the mirror. Pirates were said to be fierce, and perhaps this costume would make the humans more at ease.

The festive atmosphere was set.
His ship, glowing and filled with strange delights, was ready to welcome Earth's traders and citizens.
Now, all that remained was for them to arrive, and for Sudalorm to partake in this mysterious celebration of Halloween.

He stood tall beside the table, arms crossed, his tendrils twitching in anticipation. He had no idea what to expect,
but the High Elites demanded peace. And peace, on this day, was wrapped in candy and the strange customs of Earth.

This would be Crick’s first Halloween without their owner. They remember the strange paired costumes they would wear together. Sun and Moon. Skeleton and ghost. Cat and witch… that one was really creative. They had no one to actually put a costume on… so instead they just changed their usual tabby fur to pitch black. Black cats were a Halloween thing.

The cat had spent the last few hours watching the festivities, slinking between parties and party goers. This new one was no different. Sneak in, have a look around, avoid someone trying to take a selfie with them, maybe steal a piece of candy…. Leave.

So they strutted in through the front, amused at the effort put in to make the ship look fun and inviting. The host seemed to be awkward. Maybe this was their first time hosting a party.

“Hey. You!” The cat stated rather openly. It was Halloween after all, they could stand out today. “Why’s it so quiet in here?”

---

As Sudalorm stood beside the table, adjusting the decorations and snacks, he noticed a small cat approaching.
The creature seemed to exude an air of confidence as it trotted toward the array of treats.
Sudalorm’s large green eyes widened in surprise when the cat stopped and spoke in a clear, matter-of-fact tone.

Asking the Alien why it was so quiet.

Sudalorm’s tendrils twitched in confusion. He had not anticipated a talking cat.
Quickly, he adjusted his wristband, a complex piece of technology designed to help him communicate with various species.
With a series of deft taps, he input the necessary key numbers, his fingers moving quickly over the interface.

His tendril flexed as he completed the adjustments, now emitted a series of clicking sounds from his nose.
Suddenly, a robotic voice filled the air, translating his alien clicks into something intelligible. “Greetings, small feline. I am here to offer treats as part of my mission.
A peace offering if you will.”

He paused, uncertain of how to convey his lack of understanding of this special day.
“I do not know why there would be any more noise than this,” he added, the voice mechanical yet smooth.

He gestured with an open hand toward the table, showcasing the colorful array of snacks.
“Would you like to partake in the offerings? They are plentiful and—” he hesitated, searching for the right words, “—intended for enjoyment.”

“I’m saying you don’t seem to have any guests in here. But yes.” The cat trotted towards the table and jumped up effortlessly. At least there was an assortment of treats. “I will gladly eat some of these. At least you have variety. I’ve been to a few places where they only bought the cheap mixed stuff. If you’re going to celebrate, at least look like you’re putting in the effort.”

If anyone was thinking the cat was, to put it lightly, rude, they wouldn’t be wrong. They reached into a bowl to pull out a wrapped chocolate. With careful precision, their claws and teeth pulled the wrapper off and they took a large bite of it.

“Never had chocolate before. My owner said it was bad for cats and dogs. With all these fancy upgrades, I can finally try some… and it’s actually quite good. Nine out of ten for the chocolate.” Their tail curled around the bowl as they looked up at the host, chewing on more of the chocolate.

---

Sudalorm’s tendrils twitched as he pondered the cat’s earlier words.
"Lack of people," the feline had implied, and now that Sudalorm took a moment to consider it, he too noticed the absence of other beings.
The dock, normally bustling with traders and travelers, was quiet. Perhaps the Halloween custom wasn’t as well-known here. Still, it didn’t bother him.
The cat’s presence, small and unexpected, was enough to make this mission feel somewhat successful.

He watched as the cat continued to enjoy the chocolate treats.
At least the offerings had served their purpose.
Sudalorm felt a brief flicker of satisfaction in that,
though his nature urged him to remain quiet, a reserved observer of this strange world.

But something compelled him to speak again.
If this would be his only guest for the night, then perhaps he should offer more.
His tendrils shifted, coiling slightly as he tapped his wristband, adjusting the communicator to ensure the translation would be clear.

With a series of clicks, his wristband emitted his robotic voice once more.
“Small feline, you may take a candy or two for your... owner, if you so desire.”
He tilted his head, green eyes glowing softly as he glanced around.
“I see no one else accompanying you, and you appear to be alone. Does this mean your owner is elsewhere?”

Sudalorm’s tendrils flexed. He gestured once more to the treats, inviting the feline to take what it wished.

The night may have been quieter than expected, but the connection with this small,
curious creature seemed to make the evening worthwhile in its own peculiar way.

Crick chuckled and rolled over to lay on their side, glancing up at the strange being. “My owner? Haven’t had one for a few months now. This is my first Halloween without one. He was a good human. Pity his job cost him his life.”

If a cat could shrug, that is what Crick would have done. They were a cat. A loss didn’t hurt them as bad as the more sentient creatures. Death was merely a result of danger or aging.

“But I’m out here living my best life without one. I can go where I want, when I want. And no one can stop me! If I wanted to, I could stowaway in your hold and go where it is you’re going once you leave. I could wander for weeks, sneak into places I shouldn’t. The list is endless.”

Sudalorm watched the cat with a quiet curiosity as it stretched lazily,
clearly proud of its independence. He had considered offering his condolences for its apparent lack of an owner,
but the feline seemed content, even happier, to roam free.
There was no need for pity. Instead, Sudalorm listened carefully as the cat boasted about its freedom,
how it could travel anywhere without anyone stopping it.

“Perhaps that is true for you, small feline,” Sudalorm began, his wristband translating his alien clicks into the robotic voice.
“But such freedom may carry risks. There are dangers in the worlds I visit, dangers you may not survive.
Many of the plants and creatures I transport, they carry illnesses, toxic spores, and other alien elements that could harm you.”

His tendrils flexed and curled inward as he thought of his home planet,
its harsh environment vivid in his mind. The sun of his world burned relentlessly, scorching the surface of the land, turning everything in its rays to ash and putty. And the atmosphere, thick with spores and fungal life lacking air levels, it would choke a creature like this cat in moments if it required levels of air anywhere above 30% range.

He glanced down at the small creature.
“I will not stop you from sneaking aboard my ship,” he admitted.
“Though I would greatly prefer it if you did not.
You may be free, but eventually, your luck will run out.”

Sudalorm’s tone carried a faint note of warning.
While he respected the cat’s independence,
he doubted the creature could navigate the vast perils of intergalactic travel unscathed completely.

After a moment, he added, “Tell me, do you live on this trading dock?
Have you spent your life here among the ships and travelers?”
Sudalorm would think this is a perfect place for such a creature.
Given all the different types of traders and people that come through.
All the types of food ports, the lively nature, and many places to run and hide if needed.
Sudalorm can only assume that some creatures even freely give their attention to the feline,
especially humans given their nature with such creatures.

“I doubt there is much that I couldn’t handle,” the cat mused. “But risks are a part of life. I may have been a simple house cat but every day is as dangerous as the last.”

While the host was most likely unaware of the dangerous cybernetics the cat had hidden inside them, Crick would be a formidable threat to anything that wanted to harm them. And danger was a part of life. At any moment a tragic accident could happen… plus cats had nine lives didn’t they?

“Maybe I’ll stowaway with you, maybe I won’t. It will mostly likely be decided on a whim later. For now I’ll enjoy the current peace and quiet along with the free food.”

---

Sudalorm listened closely as the cat nonchalantly explained that it was prepared to face the risks.
It seemed that no warning or caution could deter the feline’s resolve.
With a subtle flex of his tendrils, Sudalorm resigned himself to the cat’s choice.

“Very well,” his wristband clicked and translated,
“Do as you please. I will not be the one to stop you.”

He gestured once more to the treats laid out on the table.
“Enjoy what remains of the offerings.”
Sudalorm watched for a moment, ensuring the feline was content before turning his attention outward once more.

The alien warrior stood tall, his green eyes scanning the surrounding area, vigilant for any newcomers who might approach his ship.
Despite the quietness of the evening so far, Sudalorm knew that his mission was not complete.
Whether more guests would arrive or not, he remained ever watchful, prepared for whatever might come next on this strange Halloween night.

The cat’s presence, while unexpected, had provided an intriguing diversion.

A humanoid figure steps into Sudalorm's cargo bay, looking around with an aloof expression. At least, it seems that way - a bit hard to tell, given how limited the being's facial features are. It's as if someone were drawing a generic humanoid, and didn't feel like bothering with details other than perhaps this one might be vaguely female. She even wears a non-descript goldy beige outfit.

"Happy halloween, Solids."

Sudalorm’s gaze shifted from the cat to the figure now approaching him.
He straightened, his imposing frame casting a faint shadow over the table of treats as he sized up the newcomer with sharp, green eyes. His stare was steady, noting every detail, the cut of their outfit, the way they carried themselves.
His mind ran through the list of known factions, suspecting this one’s affiliation.
Yet, it made no difference to him; he had a task to complete.

The newcomer’s voice broke the silence.

Sudalorm tilted his head, absorbing the words, and with a smooth gesture, he extended a gloved hand toward the table of treats.
The slits along his face flexed as he produced a series of clicking sounds, which translated smoothly through his wristband.

“Happy Halloween,” the robotic voice replied.
“I invite you to partake in the offerings if you find any to your liking.”

His tone was calm but carried a hint of solemnity as he stood by, maintaining a vigilant watch over the scene.
The colorful lights reflected faintly in his green eyes, casting a subtle glow on his pale skin,
which seemed almost spectral in the Halloween decor.

As the visitor approached the table, Sudalorm remained still,
his tendrils coiling with curiosity along the back of his head.
He watched carefully, awaiting any sign of reaction to his spread of Earthly and intergalactic treats.

There is a tension in the air as the changeling's arrogant gaze shifts away from Sudalorm, skimming over the vast array of treats on offer and the sign instructing to take two. Perhaps this one too has some orders, some mission, that it is abiding by? Little else could explain her participation in such a trivial, and human tradition.

"I thank you," she responds stiffly, reaching out a hand and hovering it perhaps an inch above the treats. It takes her several moments to select her two, one an Earthen sweet globe on a stick, the other a powdery confection from another quadrant of the galaxy.

As Sudalorm observed the visitor,
he noted the tension in their stance, a subtle rigidity that mirrored his own.
He had ideas why they might feel uneasy, but he chose to set them aside for now, focusing instead on the peaceful exchange at hand.
His eyes followed as the visitor reached toward the treats.

Curiosity stirred in Sudalorm’s mind,
and after a brief hesitation, he spoke.
The slits along his face flexed, emitting the familiar clicking sounds as his wristband translated.

“Does your kind partake in Halloween often?” he asked,
the question carrying an openness meant to welcome conversation.
He’d seen no evidence in his documents or recollections that their faction engaged in such festivities.
The custom was foreign even to him, but now he felt genuinely intrigued.

His tendrils curling slightly as he waited for the visitor’s response.
It wasn’t often that Sudalorm had a chance to learn about other cultures in such a relaxed setting,
and he hoped that his question might encourage them to share more about their customs,
or even their perspective on this peculiar Earth holiday.

The changeling slips the two treats she had selected into a pocket. Anyone who knows much about changelings might be struck by the fact that that pocket is very likely just... a part of the being, currently molded into a pocket shape. Like being able to put items into an ear or armpit to store them for later.

"Hmn," she responds to the question, giving Sudalorm a knowing look. She is aware how strange it must seem. "We do not. However... we do find it... informative to occasionally learn about the religions, superstitions, and the traditions that those things spawn among the races of solids. Religions are of particular importance in the Dominion," she concludes pointedly.

Crick mostly watched the stranger, curious at how uncanny they looked like a human. Strange. They hadn’t actually expected such a strange being to show up. Flexing their claws, the cat stood and picked up another treat from one of the bowls.

“You’re a strange lookin thing?” The cat said with little regard to the changeling or its potential feelings. “You could at least slap a funky looking rainbow wig and just be a clown. You’d certainly look the part.”

"Your lack of respect is noted," replies the changeling cooly, flicking her eyes toward the feline. She doesn't seem to find a talking cat all that strange, but then again, she could have been a talking anything herself. Including a goofy clown. But she did not perform on command.

Sudalorm’s gaze shifted as the feline.
Sudalorm observed the unfolding interaction with a subtle tilt of his head,
his expression neutral as he quietly analyzed the exchange.

After a beat, he commented, his clicking voice translating smoothly through his wristband.
“This small feline appears to lack a certain…awareness of self-preservation.”
He considered the cat with an almost clinical curiosity,
wondering if some part of its brain simply disregarded the concept of ... risk.
He had known few creatures so apparently unconcerned with their own safety, and he found the notion both perplexing and fascinating.

Standing tall in his pirate costume,
his green eyes fixed on the changeling, Sudalorm turned his thoughts to the event at hand.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his tendrils curling inward as he voiced a question that had been growing in his mind since he’d first read the documents on Halloween.

“This…Halloween. Is it a religious ritual?” He mused aloud, his robotic voice colored by a faint trace of genuine bewilderment.
“Humans, as I have observed, wear these varied costumes for reasons I do not fully grasp.
Are they invoking something? Appeasing spirits? The religious significance eludes me.”

The lights strung around his ship flickered, casting ghostly shadows across his pale face as he glanced between the cat and the changeling,
wondering if either might hold some insight.
Sudalorm found himself more puzzled than ever, yet strangely intrigued.
Despite have one directive to ensure peace making. He didn't really need to understand, but found himself almost wanting to.

Crick merely chuckled at the changlings response. “And you’re no fun.”

They continued to yoink pieces of candy here and there, listening in on the conversation. Further chuckling at the mention of their ‘lack of self preservation’ was noted. Both of these strange beings seemed to have no idea what Halloween was.

“Halloween and it’s traditions vary depending on the religion. Some have it as a celebration for the end or harvest. Others use it to celebrate dead people n stuff. I don’t know why costumes but the human kittens like to dress up and sometimes the adults do. I think it’s most just a fancy dress holiday and a reason to eat too much sugar.” As Crick finished the statement, they pulled another candy out of a bowl to eat.

She arches the spot where an eyebrow ought to be sardonically at Sudalorm's comment about the cat lacking self-preservation awareness. It seems that they agree. However, she moves smoothly past that, continuing instead with the discussion of Halloween.

"Yes. It seems to be a strange conglormation of a number of different religions and traditions overlapping and merging to create something new, something markedly less easy to understand the purpose of. But wishing to change one's form through the wearing of a costume... this does not strike us as an unusual yearning in solids."

Sudalorm listened intently as the feline elaborated on Halloween,
explaining the various meanings humans placed on the holiday.
The reasons seemed as diverse as the costumes themselves,
and he marveled at how they celebrated for reasons that ranged from community bonding to pure enjoyment or even an appreciation of fear.
The energy humans poured into this one night struck him as ... fascinating.

He began to draw comparisons to his own people.
While Halloween itself was alien to him, he could now see parallels with the tribal rituals and celebrations of his home planet,
each marking moments of unity, reverence, or seasonal change. In his mind, the pieces started to fit together.

Sudalorm’s green eyes shifted to the changeling.
Now that they had broached the topic of customs,
he felt this was a rare opportunity to learn more about the being before him.

With several clicking sounds.
“Do your people have similar customs?” he inquired,
his voice translating through the wristband, carrying the faintest undertone of genuine curiosity.
“Something to bring your kind together in such ways?”

He held his gaze steady,
tendrils curling outwards and resting along his shoulders and back.
Awaited the changeling’s answer. This night was turning into an unexpected lesson in inter-species traditions,
and he was eager to glean more insight.