Talk Like a Pirate/Autumn Equinox All-Skate!

[little_pieces_of_time]

Do you see that? The warmer tints of gold and orange and vermillion appearing among the leaf-bedecked trees of the forest. The lengthening shadows and the surprising swiftness of evening. Do you smell that? The smell of damp earth, of warming spices and sharp alcohol. Do you feel that? The faint, promising chill in the breeze. The wanderlust longing for far-off places and the discovery of the unknown. The urge to plunder and loot and...

It can be easy to get carried away.

Today holds some surprises for those land-lubbers who find themselves in Milliways.

The bar itself is carrying a definite nautical theme in its decorations, and anyone paying attention might notice that at least one of the windows doesn't look out on either the lake area or the end of the universe, but out over the open ocean, rocking gently on unfelt waves under a cloudless sky. Seabirds call amid the sounds of waves and creaking wood. Large pots of spiced cider and rum simmer on the stove, filling the air with the scents of cinnamon and ginger, cloves and cardamom.

Outside, ripening pumpkins can be found scattered among the fading plants of the summer garden. In the open meadow between the bar and lake and forest, a tall and imposing corn maze has sprung up, somehow taking up far much more space than exists there. The cornstalks crowding its entrance rustle in the chill breeze, simultaneously inviting and foreboding, waiting to swallow any who dare step through.

The apple tree beside the Milliways greenhouse is heavy-laden with fruit, and the kitchen rats have set out half-barrels for anyone who wishes to seek out the prettiest and tastiest apples. One group of kitchen staff seem to have found an ancient cider press somewhere in the Milliways cellars, which is being prepared for use under Ivanhoe's meticulous supervision.

[OOC: Welcome to the All-Skate: Autumnal Pirate Edition! All are welcome - yes, that means all. Whether they're retired, deleted, AU, original or already being played by someone else, bring 'em along. Feel free to have Bar update your character's look if you'd like. Theme costumes are encouraged but absolutely not required.

Usual all-skate rules apply:
1. Everyone's stressed out of their mind right now, so have fun! Participating in theme/holiday shenanigans is also not required. <3
2. Communication is key.
3. Gratuitous behavior (either of a violent or sexual nature) will not be tolerated in the bar proper. Take that to an OOM, and then Content Warning the hell out of it before you link it.
4. Please don't be a dick.
This post is open forever.]

Comments

[little_pieces_of_time]

Max is still taking in the theme of the bar room when she finds herself greeted by a literally ship-shaped birthday cake on the bar counter, and finds her own outfit utterly changed.

Her t-shirt and hoodie become a ruffled white shirt bound at the waist by an electric blue sash, worn beneath a long, fitted jacket of fine dark sea-green, the shoulders and buttoned edges glimmering with elaborate whorls of golden brocade and tiny, sewn-in gems of sea-blue. The bottom edge of the long jacket is paler, edged with white lace, its ruffled edge fluttering as it bounces against her legs like the spray and foam of waves upon the shore. Her non-descript jeans and skull-and-crossbones sneakers have become matching dark trousers and fitted calf boots of soft fawn-colored leather with down-turned tops, and a matching leather hat with three small, bright blue feathers in its brim has appeared on her head.

As subdued as her mood as been lately, she can't help but laugh in delight at her appearance, adjusting her hat to a proper tilt. Long Max Silver is in the house.

[cook_the_rude]

"Good evening, Miss Caulfield," says Dr. Lecter, who is having tea by the bar. "Or is it Captain Caulfield now?"

[little_pieces_of_time]

"Long Max Silver, if there's piracy to be done," she laughs with a toothy grin she rarely shows.

Chloe was always her captain, when they were kids. And is again, now they've found each other once more.

"Ahoy there, Dr. Lecter. Would you like some cake?"

[element_wizard]

Ah.

Corn mazes. An innocuous seeming thing. Just a maze made from corn stalks. But... something that is simple often means that it's easy for Things to hide in them. Blocking everything but a thin narrow ribbon of sky. Constant rustling around. The sort of rustling to send the hairs standing straight up.

It didn't help that it was a maze.

Those were upsetting in general.

Directions spun around.

It even caused Alec difficulty. Despite Alec's absolute sense of direction - he knew exactly where he was in space and time in relation everything else - was currently trying to get him to go as the crows flies. Which was - even for him - cheating.

Which leaves him muttering irritably to himself as he has to ignore the what his senses tell him and turn in a direction away from the center.

"This is just getting silly."

[that_new_farmer]

"...I think I agree."

The voice sounds like it is a few rows away, rendered invisible by the crowding corn, but there's definitely a similar note of unease there.

[element_wizard]

He tilts his head briefly at the voice. "Ah. Another fellow traverser of the corn," he said brightly.

[that_new_farmer]

The farmer wasn't exactly expecting to find some new secret area of the valley, today. The harvest festival isn't for another couple of weeks yet - their pumpkins aren't even ready yet! - so what is this?

They aren't about to turn down a glass of freshly-pressed cider, though.

[phantasmal_resplendent]

Pirates? Baking spices? Could this day GET any sexier?

Lup is wearing a white shirt and waist cincher, with trousers and knee-high boots, with a long leather coat and tricorn hat.

There's also a cutlass at her hip. She pulls it out and gives it a small experimental wave.

She could have used this outfit on the beach world, but hey, no time like the present, right?

[bornofgodandvoid]

The vessel sits among the fallen apples, not much larger than one.

They cannot eat the apples, but their scent is pleasant.

Though the sun shines in the sky, the shadows give them a sense of ease.

[that_new_farmer]

The farmer was glad to help the kitchen staff finish putting together the ancient cider press
- carrying tools with you sometimes comes in handy, not to mention opposable thumbs. They can carry the half-barrel basket closer in under the tree for gathering apples in, too.

Luckily, the farmer is somewhat used to spotting small creatures where they might not be expected, and alters course in the last moments. Otherwise that large barrel might have ended up far too close for comfort.

"Hup! Sorry about that - almost didn't see you there," the farmer says, apologetically.

[bornofgodandvoid]

The vessel glances up. This is a human, they remember, carrying a very large barrel. They wouldn't be able to parry something that size, even in their prime.

They give a small nod and bow, out of greetings and thanks.

[hothellier]

"No, thank you," someone is saying, in a bright, slightly forced cheerful tone as the door opens. "I don't need to see what you did to those bugs, as long as the hotel is clean, that's okay..."

The owner of the voice is backing through the door, trying to hide the amount of haste with which she wants to be not in the other room right now. In doing so, one of her perfectly turned heels almost makes contact with a waitrat, and the resultant squeaking has her spinning around in guilt.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there! I didn't know we had... any... rat... staff..."

She trails off when she realised that this particular bar room is not in the hotel she just left, and her eyes widen in amazement as she stands up and looks around herself.

"Where," she asks not just the rat, but the room in general, "is this place?"

picking the least obvious of my three to hit you with lol

[fizziefrog]

"That's what I was wondering," a rough voice says helpfully, it belongs to an imp sitting at the bar with a glass in one hand and some kind of pamphlet in the other. He'd initially glanced over at the squeak and resultant apologising, but seeing her mystified expression he couldn't help but pay it forward a little.

"Turns out it's a - " he glances down at the pamphlet "'pocket dimension'."

He sort of knows what that means.

He looks up at her again and offers the pamphlet in her direction.

"One of the rats gave me this, it explains everything. Sort of."

[hothellier]

"Ooooh, a pamphlet!" Charlie takes the object in question, but before she can read it, she is struck by a sudden realisation.

"Ooooh! A pamphlet!" she repeats, as if Fizzarolli would obviously agree what a great idea this is. "What a great way of explaining the purpose of an establishment to curious potential customers!"

That declaration over, she turns her attention to the information therein.

"Customers from all over? Even... the living? Living humans?"

[crowschild]

"Do you work at the circus?" This is said by Ceilidh, a small, red-haired child staring up at Charlie with wide eyes. "My brother tried to sell me to the circus that came to town but the circus people wouldn't take me because they said they weren't allowed to. But they gave us candy and let us look at all the animals."

Near by is a man with the same exact shade of red hair and green eyes as Ceilidh. Rory is watching Ceilidh, even if he didn't look at it.

Lucius Varivus II / Gladiator II

[luciussonofmaximus]

The newcomer, Lucius had found that Africa was not that bad at the moment. Coming in was the strange part. Once he found he wasn't in Africa or Rome, he finally relaxed himself, wearing his usual Gladiator armor wearing a Medusa head with snakes around it.

He immediately found a barrel of fresh apples and grabbed one, relaxing near the tree with leaves falling off.

[hothellier]

"Hello!"

Charlie has obviously decided that the best way to get to know this place is to brightly start conversations with literally everyone she sees.

"What are you... oh, is that an apple?"

Sure, apples do feature a lot in her interior design choices, but the quality of the food available in Hell doesn't really include fresh fruit.

Re: Lucius Varivus II / Gladiator II

[that_new_farmer]

The farmer pauses as they come back to the apple tree to pick another half-barrel.

That is some impressive (the farmer refuses to admit it's also intimidating) armor.

"Got a good one there?" They smile, nodding to the apple in the man's hand.

Going to the corn maze (gonna find some trouble)

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Wuxian, apple in hand, pauses in front of the corn maze. My, what a deliciously foreboding entrance you have. He considers, tapping his nose with his dizi.

It's not likely to be too scary, right?

[hothellier]

"What's in there?"

The voice is cheerful, curious, and incredibly female, and the owner is tall, blonde, and wearing a stylish pants suit, peering around him at the corn maze.

"It looks exciting, right?"

Re: Going to the corn maze (gonna find some trouble)

[that_new_farmer]

At some point, a figure in hard-wearing farm clothes, sensible boots and a rucksack comes around a corner at the far end of the exit path, deep in the maze. They have a sword at their side that looks suspiciously like bone, and they're actively pulling lingering spider-webs from their hair when they notice they've found the way out.

"Oh fantastic!" they remark, the tension visibly relaxing from their shoulders. "That was a doozy."

[theloudestlan]

He hates it when the others get too far ahead of him. Lan Jingyi can't even begin to count the times they've all been told to stay together and not let themselves get separated on a night hunt, but did anyone else listen? Nooooo, obviously not!

(Never mind that he'd bounded off to check something on impulse without bothering to tell anyone. That's not the point.)

Running's against the rules, but it's not like they're in the Cloud Recesses right now, is it? Besides, it's probably more important to catch up. He's already rehearsing the argument as he dashes through a doorway and ... face-first into a stand of plants?

"Yeargh!"

Re: Going to the corn maze (gonna find some trouble)

[bornofgodandvoid]

Having moved towards the large forest of corn, the vessel stares at the human - or rather, at the object in his hand.

They're not quite sure what it is.

[stakedmysoul]

When Husk discovered a completely different bar through a magical door, he knew exactly what to do: he let himself behind the bar, found himself a bottle of the best looking whiskey he could find, and poured himself a very generous glass.

Then, because he's not a bartender here, he returned to the customer side, and propped the bar up from there.

This all results in a cat-like demonoid creature leaning on the bar, turned at an angle so his red feathered wings aren't trapped behind him. He's dressed a bit like a stage magician: black top hat, pants with suspenders, red bow tie, which draw out the red ans black heart shapes in the fur of his face and ears.

He nurses his drink while he watches the bar, occasionally turning sleight of hand tricks with a poker chip.

[darksister]

Asajj watches the entrance and all without really caring one way or another whether she's spotted or not. When the being helps themself to a bottle she smirks but again says nothing. Not her problem.

For herself she asked Bar for something nice and bitter. After all the naive sweetness of the young clone girl, she needs a palette cleanser.