The Long Halloween

"When black cats prowl and the pumpkin gleans, the streets fill with madness and screams. May the Angels be with you, for it is Halloween!"

- A random stranger.

The Lambent Day
Theia was skipping to the Dragon Gunfire guild hall, admiring the life awake in the city this morning. Crocus had always amazed her with its large building, it's large concrete arms reaching into the heavens. The sounds of people exchanging stories and laughing at friendly jokes. The smell of local food stands and restraunts filled her nose, as she was convinced to stop at her favorite bakery to pick up a chocolate croissant. Her Exceed, Albina, grabbed a scone and returned to Theia's side as they had the guild hall's entrance in sight.

Passing through the Jutsu Shiki covering the entrance she descended the steps into the underground passages that was the guild. The glowing lacrima lined the way to the main room where she saw many of her fellow members conversing and having a good time. She wants to go join in on the fun, but know that she came there on a mission; to find a job so she can buy loads of candy for her and Albina to enjoy Halloween To the fullest extent. She goes up to the job board and browses all the flyers, hoping one will jump out at her.

"''Working at a diner"...nah, I don't think my team would like that as much as I would. "Escorts for a delivery"...maybe. "Rumors of Pet Experiments" WHAT?! Someone is experimenting on animals! I can't stand for this! We need to stop this right now, there is no time to ask Master Aether if we can take this. ''Theia thinks to herself and quickly rips the flyer off the board. "Albina we need to get Völsunga together right now, we have a job!" Theia shouts as she rushes out the cave, back up to the surface streets and heads to the east, towards her teammates apartment.

She quickly races to the door of her teammates and slides past the door in a frenzy. She quickly regains composure and starts banging on the door. "Seraph!! Seraph!! Open up!" She shouts, as Albina catches up and pauses to pant at the threshold of Seraph's apartment door. "You need to wait for me next time Theia! Also what is that racket??" Hearing loud noises sounding like music from behind the door, Theia knew that Seraph couldn't hear her. She jiggles the door handle, and notices that it was unlocked. She pushes the door open and is left speechless at the sight she sees.

In front of her eyes she sees the red haired man holding a plate of nachos moving his hips and feet to the sounds of the Afro-Cuban music blazing in his apartment. Theia bursts out laughing, tickled by sight of her partner Salsa dancing with his food. The sounds of her laughter make Seraph jump and drop his plate, as he stands there in surprise.

"Jeez, Theia! You scared me there for a moment---wait, I left the door open, didn't I?" Seraph replies with his eyes wide open, he was honestly a bit embarrassed of the entire situation. "I guess there's only one explanation— I was making salsa and nachos while dancing to salsa", he added with as he chuckled. He notices Albina panting and then looks back at Theia. "Half the team's here and you've been running so did something happen or do you want to go to the zoo, again? If it's about animal rights, I swear to you I am no lawyer." He then picked up the plate from the ground and placed it near the dishwasher. He grabs a mop from the corner and hands it to Theia, "Want to help me finish cleaning this up, so we can get out of this mess that I call my home?"

Theia grabs the mop from his hands with a loud "Hmph!" and begins cleaning up the mix of salsa and chips. She takes a deep breath and begins to explain in one long string of words. "Seraphweneedtogoonthisjobrightnow! Weneedtosavetheanimal! WecangobackforthezooanimalslaterbecausetheydontdeservetobelockeduplikethatandIreallywanttotakehomethatredpanda, butweneedtogoonthisjobrightnow!" Theia finishes and takes a deep inhale, proceeding to pant afterwards. Seraph just sits there with a blank look, pursing his lips together as he waits for her to catch her breath. Once Theia has regained her composure, Seraph speaks up with an eloquent, "Huh?".

Now a bit more calm, Theia explains "We need to go on this job right now!" As she throws the flyer in his face, detailing the expedition they are about to embark on. "It says here that there is a rumor going around that hundred of pets are vanishing from peoples homes to be experimented on by this unknown scientist. We can just stand around while these helpless pets are taken from their owners! We need to find Melanie and go save them right now! Think of all the puppies and kitties!" Theia says and puts her hands to the sky as if asking God for an explaination. The mop hits the floor with a loud clank, and puts another thought into the blonde mages head. "Hey Seraph, speaking of, have you seen Melanie around? I haven't talked to her in a couple days now..."

"Animals, again?" he raises his eyebrow as he remembers the time when he tried to help an animal who was experimented upon. "Last time I tried to help a suspicious looking gorilla-borg (cyborg), it blew up in my face. Like literally, I punched him and he blew up. Like I always say, Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. " Brushing his bangs behind his ears he asked, "Melanie? Nah, she dumped me and here I thought I was supposed to be upset. By the way, do you like my new undercut? I am really diggin' this discontinued undercut thing but let's not talk about it---you clearly want to go and save these pets and I don't have a choice, do I?"

"Ahem, if I may interrupt. Chase told me while we were at the guild hall, after you rudely took off," Albina says with a glare towards Theia, "that Melanie had decided to get some space and go on a personal job. So she won't be joining."

"Oh, thanks Albina! Sorry for abandoning you back there." Theia says and leans down to place her hand on top of the Exceeds head. "Now I am sorry if this is mean, but I think you should stay out of this job. If these people are kidnapping pets to experiment on, I wouldn't want them to mistake you for a cat and hurt you. I hope that's ok?" Theia asks and receives a nod a smile from Albina.

Turning to Seraph she smiles brightly and says, "Well I guess it's just you and me! And yes, you don't have a choice. We need to help these poor creatures even if it kills us." she slams her fist into her palm with determination. She begins to turn and walk out the door, but the quickly spins back and goes to Seraph to plant a chaste kiss on his cheek. She giggles and says, "Your haircut is very cute by the way. Now come on silly we have to hurry if we are going to make it to the city before dusk!"

"H'okay! I see a lot has changed after that night. I am really not comfortable with the part where you say, even if it kills us but I guess I'll have to roll with it" he replied in a nervous tone. Seraph was dumbstruck after getting a kiss on his cheek, he was almost incapacitated and wanted to savor the moment but he knew, he HAD to get over it as time was running out. Seraph grabbed a cross draw belt holsters and loaded them with a pair of striker-fired semi-automatic pistols. He looked back at Theia before leaving the apartment, "Don't look at me like that. I never said I couldn't use one." He slowly walked out his apartment along with Theia and locked the door. "I don't trust myself. You mind keeping them safe for me?"

"Your guns?!" Theia said in surprise as Seraph placed them into her hands. "Uhhh I guess if you need me too, but they kind of intimidate me...you may know how to use them, but I don't! But if it mea stop won't shoot yourself in the foot, then I'll wear them." She gently places them into the holster she hooked on.

Seraph stands there in shock, just staring at Theia. A blank stare, without a single facial expression. Okay, that happened..., he thought to himself as he burst into laughter. "You and I just had our first misunderstanding, little bird. The guns are for me, ha-hahaha!" He continues laughing. "I know you can't handle guns. I can. Always could. Now, if you're willing to carry it for me, fine. Let's go! We have a long way to go and time is running out. I must ask this though---" he paused momentarily. "Why doesn't the job request paper thing say where is the lab or anything about the people involved? How are we supposed to track this evil person?" He began walking down the stairs and waited for Theia to come up with a reply.

"Oh! Were you talking about your house keys?! You have to me more specific next time! Trade me, I don't want these guns!" Theia says as she takes off the holster and shoves it at Seraph, then snatches the keys and places them in her pocket. Clearing her throat, she continues, "Well the flyer says the rumors are originating from the coastal town in the Country of Sin. I figured we could walk there? I'm not a big fan of trains...but my Light Wings will get me there fas, as long as you could keep up." Theia teases as she elbows Seraph lightly in the ribs.

Grabbing the holster and strapping it to him. "Ha, ha! Very funny. Do you really think you're the only one who can fly?" he says in an angry tone. Seraph then quickly runs off and in a flash disappears from everyone's sight, only to appear above Theia; in the sky, a few seconds later. However, more amazingly, it was not him who was flying but rather a flying vehicle. A technologically advanced, car-like flying machine. "Like it? I call her, Q-Tip. Mostly because she runs on zero-point energy produced by the quantum vacuum lacrima wired to a top notch ICE with a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation-ish ignition system, an modified electrohydrodynamic thruster and flexible swept wing made of carbon fiber reinforced with aluminium and finally, it really has a sharpened nose which of course is made from pyrolytic carbon wrapped in anti-magic disruption mesh; a tip if you will. For maximum aerodynamic advantage. Hence, the name. This baby can go transonic within ten seconds and oh, it has a system that can control the trajectory of a vehicle without constant hands-on... yes, that's mostly because you can be very distracting at times." He explains with a sly smirk as he steered the vehicle towards Theia. "Need a ride, princess? Just so you know, I have an electroacoustic transducer installed in this thing. Refuse and I'll race you. If I race you and win, I'll tell everyone who won the thing. Your choice. "

"A light amplification ICE? So does that mean I'll have to give you a jump of this flying tin can gives out?" She laughs out. "I am just messing with you; I know how boys are with their cars. And I will have to pass on the offer, vehicles are not my thing...unless you want me to get sick all over your dash. I'll stick to my wings, thank you very much." Theia says as she begins to condense her light magic into the form of wings on her back. She levitates up to Seraphs eye level and smiles. "Ready to go?"

"Ready when you are!" he exclaimed with a small grin on his face. "I really meant L.A.S.E.R ignition but who cares---she wants a race. I'll give her a race!" he murmured to himself, closing the door. He started the engine and accelerated towards his destination. He couldn't believe his eyes, his invention was actually functioning just the way he thought it would, perhaps, it was his luckiest day or was it? "Are you sure you don't want to join? This really does have an artificial atmosphere and wasting your magic isn't a good idea" he shouts on a loudspeaker that he recently installed in the vehicle.

Flying behind Seraph and his car, Theia thinks about his offer. "Artificial atmosphere? So I won't get sick? I guess you do have a point about conserving magic... I'll join you in the car, just please don't crash. We need to get to those animals and save them!" Theia says and opens the door sit in the car, her wings dissipating into the air. She smiles brightly at her partner, "Alright, let's see what your baby can do!"

"Hold on tight!" Seraph says with a smirk. Flying at speeds of 650 mph, the two mages make it to the country of Sin in a matter of seconds. The country itself is laid with foliage and coastal wildlife that is flourishing beyond the borders of the cobblestone towns. They land close to the port side city of Strogas, which is known for its exquisite seafood and friendly residents.

A few minutes after parking the car in a desolate area, Seraph finally stepped out of it and exclaimed, "Land, sweet land! I missed you!" He looked at Theia signalling her to get off and move quickly as they had work to do. He looked at this watched and pressed a button, causing the vehicle to turn invisible all of a sudden. ''Great work, Seraph. Three months and you still can't figure out a way to make it actually invisible, can you? Camouflage is good but this really won't cut it'' he thought to himself before finally turning back at Theia. "So, what's the plan?"

Theia rolls out of the car and hugs the earth with a deep sigh. After a few seconds she stands up quickly and brushes off her black shirt and dark wash jeans. "Now that that terror is over, I say we go ask the local townspeople where they have seen most of the pets disappear. That way we can localize the posibilities of where the culprit is. Because they probably couldn't have carried the pets far before they began to make a lot of noise to alert the neighbors." Theia pauses and puts a finger to her chin. "That is unless they drugged them...anyhow, I think it's best if we start asking around and gather information."

As the duo finish their conversation, a bunch of suspicious looking men ran out of a building; a skyscraper to be precise. One of the four men shouted, "Now that bastard will pay!" as he activated a remote detonator causing an explosion to go off in the building and instead of running away, the men stood there admiring their work. The fire on the twentieth and twenty-first floor spread quickly as people tried to escape from the building.

"Okay, time for a little detour. People first, animals second." Seraph said looking at Theia with a serious demeanor. "You go and help the people stuck on the two respective floors and help others evacuate the building. I'll take of those jokers and the fire!" Without wasting his breath, he dashed towards the four men, attempting to pull them out of the path of the falling debris. "Go!" he shouted looking at Theia.

Trivia

 * This role-play was originally supposed to named, "The Hellhound Gets a New Leash" but was reconsidered by one of the authors.