Forums » General Roleplay » Trick or Treat: Lambert

Someone put up a sign pointing to a particularly dark and filthy-looking alley in the bad side of town, the kind of alley you find dead cats, used needles and broken bottles in. Tonight it would appear someone at least swept it up and put up a few Jack O'Lanterns, which cast spooky shadows on the walls. Said sign reads "Free confectionery down this way", in an intricate and beautiful handwriting which clashes with everything else about this seedy place.

Those who decide to go down that path will see an old and decrepit wooden door on the side of building. Again, there's an arrow drawn over the doormat pointing toward the door, saying "Will reward quality costumes with confectionery."

Sounds legit.

Seedy places were Nalia's thing. She enjoyed going down seedy allies... if only because her appearance already deterred people from interacting with her in the first place. However, when she came across this alley and how vacant it was, she took a moment to look around with narrowed eyes.

Pivoting on her talons, Nalia started down the alley, looking to the arrows and the words that were scrawled about the area. Her attention also caught on the jack-o-lanterns that were used to further decorate the alley and make it seem more inviting.

Continuing to go ahead and follow the alley, Nalia arrived at the door. For a moment, she debated whether or not to knock.

Deciding upon it, she did. Three times, Nalia knocked on the door. If anything, she was more curious about who would make such an alley a venue for an event.

With a loud, creaking noise, the door opens, seemingly by itself. The light inside is very dim, just enough to reveal a very cramped hallway leading to a row of stairs. At first it's as if the visitor is being invited to come in, but then someone steps into view. It's a very tall man in a formal - and quite outdated - suit, one hand holding a glass of wine with spidery fingers, the other carrying a large plastic bag full of treats - the good stuff, too, lots of full size candy bars and cookies.

He approaches the doorway, a disinterested expression on his chalk-white face, and silently examines the Tiefling. He takes a sip from his glass and waits for Nalia to state her business.

There was a moment of pause from Nalia as she viewed the man before her. Her expression was almost as serious as the man's was disinterested. However, she remembered that around this time last year, there was an event that a lot of people she would not have expected to celebrate it... well, celebrate it.

Nalia looked down to her attire, then back up to the man. Rogue leathers and the cloak from her elder brother. Nothing new... nothing really different about her. But people generally complimented the craftsmanship of her 'costume' when she ventured in unknown cities and towns to her at times.

"... I suppose the phrase is... 'trick or treat'?" Nalia asked, always a little stumped for what the phrase was at times. She never heard of a 'Hallow's Eve', or 'Samhain', or 'Halloween' where she grew up. At first, she thought the holiday and events were a mockery of her kind and other 'scarier' types of beings.

Nalia's curiosity had been sated, for the most part.

The tall man remains silent as he quietly examines the visitor. His face betrays no emotion, even as he takes another sip of his wine. Eventually, he nods. "Very well.", he says - his voice rough and creaky, like it has not been used in a long, long time. "A very well-made costume. Congratulations." Never has this word been spoken with this much indifference. It could be taken as mocking, if he gave any sign that he's actually able to emote in the first place. "And what is it supposed to be?" His mouth twists into a very subtle smile, that nevertheless looks like it doesn't belong anywhere near that off-white face.

Nalia's tail twitched from beneath her cloak. She was never really asked what she was 'supposed' to be. She was generally asked what she was, or who she thought she was, though.

Touching her horns with a sense of curious intent, she went ahead to reply: "an infernal spawn who chose the life of a rogue."

Right on Tinnalia's heels is another visitor--or a gaggle of them, in this case.

Three utterly adorable, not entirely human ten-year-olds make their way down the street, coming upon Lambert's sign. The trio pause to consider it--there is bickering and hissing, which only lasts a couple of minutes before the three make their way down the alley in a line.

Heading it is Cassius, youngest of the siblings, dressed as a pirate--just like his uncle. He even has on a tiny turquoise suit with a fancy feathered hat. With brown hair and golden eyes, he matches pretty nicely.

Second is Ailana, as a precious princess. She has on the loveliest lil' purple dress, lacey and covered in tiny fuscia roses. There is even a small copper tiara ontop of her wavy red hair.

Lastly is Isaac, cautious of this alleyway--as he rightly ought to be! The pale runt with blonde hair is a wizard, sporting a green robe and pointed hat. There's even an assortment of harmless potions around his belt! The copper glasses are a nice touch.

Their costumes are very well-made, and why wouldn't they be? The triplets' father is a tailor after all. Their inhuman natures are made obvious by furred hands, wee wings, and twitching cheetah ears, the only things not covered by clothing!

"Very... specific.", says the tall man, as he extends and opens the bag of sweets so Nalia can help herself. It looks like she passed the test. "Take up to three items of confectionary, with Lambert's highest regards. And..." His body bends as he leans closer, and speaks in a whisper. Proximity to his glass of wine reveals that it's not red wine at all. "...should this mask, this skin prove difficult to shed next morning, visit my abode some other time, and we will discuss matters."

There was more to be said, but the presence of a trio of kids scurrying over makes the man stand back up to his full height as he looks over to them, dwarfing the tiefling in the process. "Ah, children. Be very welcome."

((I have to leave for work in an hour, so I'm going to go ahead and post just to ensure I'm caught up. I'll try to check the thread between my breaks!))

The triplets toddle up to the teifling and tall, pale, utterly uncanny gentleman. Isaac lingers in the back, eyeing the two adults with suspicion, but his younger siblings hold out their candy sacks eagerly.

"Hiiiiii!"
"Avast, loot!"

"Trick ir treaaat!" the pair singsong together. Isaac's voice follows like a weak breeze.

"G-good evening... a-and Trick or treat..."

Dipping her fingers into the bag, Nalia went ahead and retrieved the three candies she was allowed. She went to bag them within one of her leather pouches before the man leaned in and she got a whiff of the liquid within the wine glass.

When the man leaned back to greet the children that were soon at her side, Nalia only contemplated what Lambert must have meant. She decided to quietly disregard it for now and stepped aside for the children to enjoy themselves.

"Thank you for the candy and the, erm..." Nalia wanted to find a way to word their brief interaction. "And this nightly conversation. I'll be on my way, then."

Again, there was only a glance to the children, Nalia's golden eyes flicking over the children, their costumes, and their features.

'Interesting...', she thought. Adjusting her cloak with the flick of her arm, Nalia left the alleyway.

Again, the tall man smiles, though many would probably prefer he didn't, given the way it seems to stretch the stiff skin of his face in a rather inhuman way. One final nod toward Nalia, and his attention is fully on the trio of children. He finishes his drink and regards them with some indifference. "And what are you three young ones dressed up as?"

That smile is...off putting. Isaac eyes Lambert with greater care now, and the doofy smiles of his gungho siblings waver a little.

Cassius answers the tall man's question first, despite the unease. He is the most adventurous, after all.

"I-I'm a pirate king, Mister! Cap'n Cassius Forest!" He beams, happiness reignited by pride. His sister joins in.

"I'm a princess," the redhead explains with a practiced curtsey, as if her costume is obvious and Lambert is a silly commoner for asking.

Then there is Isaac. Cautious little runt. His lips press into a thin line as he considers the choice to answer. At his hesitation, Cassius and Ailana both gently step on his foot paws, hidden under the robe.

"?!! I-I-I am a wizard! Uh, sir!" The slightly smaller brother straightens up, eyeing Lambert with renewed vigor; and curiosity.

"What are you?"

Cassius & Ailana attach themselves to the question.

"Yeah! What are you supposed to be??"
"Your costume is freaky! Did your daddy make yours too?"

The tall man doesn't miss a beat, and, with the same indifference as before, gives his reply. "I am a bookish librarian, young ones. As you see, my skin is chalk white because I don't get enough sun due to being indoors always, reading, and I am very thin because I eat irregularly and do not exercise."

He extends his bag of sweets. "Well then, Pirate, Wizard and Princess, help yourselves to your items of confectionery. Take no more than three each." There is a subtle hint of threat to that last sentence, like horrible fates await those who as much as dare take more than they should.

Like *shudder* having it confiscated and having to go back home empty-handed!

Cassius reaches out first, grabbing up four candies. He is a pirate!

Ailana smacks his fuzzy hand, slapping the extra free to take it and two more. "Only three, scoundrel!"

"Yeees princess." The brunette sulks.

Isaac still eyes Lambert warily, but the allure of candy is too great. He takes three.

"Our father likes books," he adds off-handedly, trying to make small talk with the gentleman.

Though he hesitates as the pirate, true to his costume, tries to plunder more than he should, the tall man soon straightens up again, looking down at the children and nodding at the words. "As he should. I hope you three do as well. There is much to be found in the yellowed pages of a tome.", he states, rather matter-of-factly. He looks awfully disinterested so the fact that he bothers to return the smalltalk seems a bit at odds with that.

Despite himself, the blonde boy grins broadly with a face full of adorable little fangs.

"Isaac's already down that path," Cassius remarks a tad snidely. Ailana gives him a nudge in the side with a look. Their elder triplet seems to ignore this, despite being at the proper age to bicker with blood kin.


Down the alley and around the corner a deep voice hollars, and three sets of ears perk up. That sounded like their names!

"! Grandpa's calling us!" the princess exclaims as she gathers up her skirts. "Thank you for the candy, Mister! Your taxes will be lessened this autumn!"

What is the 10-year-old know about taxes?

Cassius immediately toddles after her with a hollared good bye to the tall man; he's swinging his sack of loot over his shoulder and clinging to his fancy little hat with a paw hand. It's only Isaac who again hesitates, at least willing to give Lambert a proper departure.

"H-have a good evening, Mister," he bids the stranger, looking intently at his face after for any responses in turn.

And with that business concluded, the tall man nods quietly at the trio and takes a step back, disappearing behind the door.

The shadows twist and writhe, coming together to form the shape of an almost human creature... but not human at all, as they coalesce and leave behind glistening purple flesh and black robes beaded with arcane symbols. The creature's face is a mess of tentacles, with two bulging, milky eyes reflecting what little light filters down into the alley.

If this is a costume, surely it must be of sufficient quality?

It doesn't knock. Instead, the words knock, knock, knock... echo dully in the minds of those close to the alley where the creature floats, the hem of its robe just barely grazing the filthy street.

The door once more opens, seemingly by itself, with a loud creaking noise, and the chalk-white man in the tuxedo slides back into view, his wine glass somehow refilled. He does not have conversation for this one, though the slightest hint of emotion can be seen through his corpselike features - he is intrigued by the visitor. Either way, he offers a silent, knowing nod, and extends the bag of candy to this one. For the Illithid, there are no restrictions on the number of candy he's allowed to take.