[center] [img]https://imgur.com/ZVvc9qJ.png[/img] [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/renderfont4/ywLOY/eyJyIjoiZnMiLCJoIjoxODMsInciOjI4MTMsImZzIjo2NSwiZmdjIjoiI0JDQkNCQyIsImJnYyI6IiMwMDAwMDAiLCJ0IjoxfQ/VHN1a2lubyAoTHVuYSkgSW5vdWU/playfair-display-regular.png[/img][/center] [hr][hr][center][hider=Twisted Nerve - Kill Bill Soundtrack][youtube]https://youtu.be/DDX7ATO_Euk?si=begrsAzFY3FHpQmb[/youtube][/hider][/center][hr][hr] [color=gray][i]Halloween Festival, Temple's Booth -> Behind the Haunted House -> Temple's Booth[/i][/color] [sub][b]Mentions:[/b] [@AtomicEmperor][/sub] [hr] [quote=The girl with the bear][color=f0cd8d]"Oh, and your drink, Sister! Absentmind here forgot to ask what you wanted..."[/color][/quote] [color=bcbcbc][b]“Thank you, but no drink for me. What you've given me already is perfect~!”[/b][/color] She said in a sweet sing-song voice, giving the very image of a girl in her element. She accepted the change and the card without much difficulty, and took her container of piping hot kebabs and salad. What Elise would notice, from carefully studying Luna, were a couple of things. For one, Luna had the quirk of running her thumb along her manicured fingernails, indicating thoughts racing in her mind. Secondly, Elise would observe for a flash as Luna took her food, her sleeve would pull back ever so slightly to reveal a tattoo of a date at least ten years old, surrounded in leaves and tree branches. The leaves had a specific shape, almost like maple leaves. Luna gave a gracious nod to the master chef, [color=bcbcbc][b]“Creepy bunny, at your service.”[/b][/color] Before she returned her gaze to the girls serving her, and she took a step back. [color=bcbcbc][b]“Thank you for dinner, I won't take up any more of your time~!”[/b][/color] She started to walk away, and found a vacant picnic table still within peeping distance of the Temple's booth. The change was put in her purse, while the card was examined briefly before being placed face-up on the table beside her container. Luna lifted her mask a little, enough to expose her mouth as she opened the container. She took a bite of kebab, and gave a nod to herself. She didn't want to admit it, but they knew how to cook! As she worked through dinner, she never took her eyes off the Temple's booth. No doubt the girl with the bear was still staring at her. Or, maybe the distance put the girl at ease. That would be preferred. Luna was just an innocent little Touka-chan, after all. She laughed a little to herself, taking another bite, before her face behind the mask became serious. She didn't see what she needed to see. She didn't see the [i]knife[/i]. She couldn't say ‘mission complete’ without that. The look on Mother Cards face if she returned home empty-handed? Well, she wouldn't grace it with a description. It would be a horrible experience, regardless. What would she do? Luna thought for a long moment, finishing her dinner, before an idea came to her. A devious, fiendish idea. She set down her plastic fork and pulled out her cell, sending off a quick text to their newest cohort: Layla. It was only thanks to Luna's spying efforts that she even knew Layla had something that could help Luna get what she needed. [code]I need your abstraction. Send one of your ghosts over. I'll be behind the Haunted House.[/code] Luna sent off the text. It was only a few minutes later that Layla responded. [code]They don't play nice, but if you're sure, cut your hand a bit. It'll help them find you. I'll try to convince them to visit. No promises, okay?[/code] Luna smirked under her mask, pulling it down to its rightful position over her face. She sent a text back. [code]Okay.[/code] She gave one last look to the Temple's booth, before she got up and left. She didn't bother binning her container, and the prayer card given to her was also left to its lonesomeness on the picnic table. [hr][hr][center][hider=Tenebre Rosso Sangue (ULTRAKILL Soundtrack)][youtube]https://youtu.be/L5q4uYj-gyg?si=Q0DmvS0iasWIDZf0[/youtube][/hider][/center][hr][hr] She waited, breath tense, behind the Haunted House, blood dripping from her hand. It wasn't long until she felt a presence behind her, and the air became cold. A gloved hand reached for her manicured fingers, black mask pushing to the side so a dark tongue could lap up at the cut. [b]“Hmm. Sweet, but not as sweet as my treasure.”[/b] Mr. Riil adjusted his mask over his face, letting go of Luna’s hand. She took a steadying breath, trying to hide her nerves before she spoke. [color=bcbcbc][b]“I need a favour.”[/b][/color] [b]“I don't do business outside of my treasure. Get lost.”[/b] Luna expected as much. That was why she had an idea for the ghost. Favour for a favour, even at the expense of Layla. [color=bcbcbc][b]“I see you're a busy apparition. But doesn't it pain you to be here? In the Shimmer, I mean.”[/b][/color] Mr. Riil stared, his mask hiding any expression he could have. [b]“Go on.”[/b] [color=bcbcbc][b]“Why haven't you adjoined to your [i]treasure[/i] yet? You get more influence and access to her, and you don't have to fight to be in the Shimmer. It's a win-win.”[/b][/color] Mr. Riil placed a hand on his chin, appearing to contemplate Luna's proposal, before he laughed. [b]“And my dear Layla would suffer even more. Now who is more cruel?”[/b] Luna simply narrowed her eyes behind her mask. [color=bcbcbc][b]“Is it enough to gain your favour or not?”[/b][/color] Mr. Riil laughed again. A cold, dead laugh. [b]“It's enough to gain my attention. But you will still owe me… [i]something else.[/i]”[/b] Luna got a sick feeling in her stomach. She could guess, but she had to be sure. [color=bcbcbc][b]“What would that be?”[/b][/color] Mr. Riil took a step closer, black trench coat swirling in the wind as he towered over Luna. [b]“A soul sacrifice.”[/b] Luna pursed her lips behind the mask. Not ideal, but finding someone to take the bullet was an easy enough task when you grew up in the mafia. [color=bcbcbc][b]“Very well.”[/b][/color] Mr. Riil seemed finally satisfied, and clasped his hands together. [b]“Now, my dear. What [i]favour[/i] did you need my help with?”[/b] [hr] Back at the Temple's booth, all seemed to be normal. The evening was winding down, people were getting their last orders. Everything seemed good. All of that changed at the sound of heavy growling. Dark, glinting red eyes stared from the darkness in between two tents on the other side. Then, in swift and rapid succession, pawprints hit the ground as what appeared to be a skeletal black dog launched its way over the table and inside the Temple's tent. It's red eyes fixed on Mr. Salamente instantly. The ‘dog’ snapped its large jaws at the man, growling and barking, before it launched itself forward. Its maw attempted to clamp down on the man's thigh, teeth bared and sharp.