WEEK 2

[grimgrinningghosts]

[One week. One week spent in the Haunted Mansion, and nothing seems to have changed. The hinges still creak in doorless chambers, strange and frightening sounds still echo through and you still occasionally catch a flicker of candlelight out of the corner of your eye. You might be slowly becoming familiar with the mundanity of this communal life, and we've recognized that possibility.

Something has to give.]

[SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY]

{ooc: Don't forget to turn in your week 1/intro AC! As per murdergame tradition, this begins our new weekly schedule - Tuesday and onwards are locked for the motive. Everybody's just working for the weekend.

Additionally, a few people this week are going to get tagged by...something. If you'd like to opt out of this, please let us know.}

Comments

[wannagetsmote]

[Since arriving, Maui has had plenty of dreams about having his hook back. Whether or not that's what this was -- had he fallen asleep? Or had he finally finished running up those stairs? -- he didn't know. Either way, old habits died hard, and the demi-god found himself reaching for his back before realizing that there was no familiar, comforting weight slung around his back.

Fine then. Maui could still take things on with his fists, right? He stepped forward, approaching the collection of bottles warily.]

Uh, hello? If this is a prank, it's not funny.

[And yet, Maui made notes for a later date. It'd be hilarious if he did it.]

1/2

[candlelightsflicker]

[Whatever this was, it seemed fairly obvious that it didn't fit in with the rest of the mansion. Everything was too clean. Too nice. It's almost a bit unsettling, but there's no reason to be frightened prematurely.

Is there?

Regardless, when Maui heads over to the bottles, a figure appears behind the bar...]

[candlelightsflicker]

[It's a specter, appearing quite similar to your not-so-loved Host in terms of aesthetic. His entire outfit and skin color are blue, at odds with the rest of the area. Tattered old rags and a beat-up top hat adorn his elderly body, and one hand is used to lean on a cane, while the other focuses on pouring himself a drink into...a pineapple.

Notably, a hatbox sits on the bar itself, strangely the same color as him. Best not to question it.]

Hardly a prank, demigod. It's a Lapu Lapu. Myers's Original Dark Rum and a mixture of tropical fruit juices. I typically top it with Bacardi 151 for good measure.

Of course, I'd hardly expect you to recognize what Bacardi is.

[A straw materializes in his own pineapple. An identical one materializes next to his.]

Care for one?

[wannagetsmote]

[The box was studied with no small amount of skepticism, just as the drink was. None of this was making sense, and it wasn't just because of the usual differences in time. Maui certainly had a lot of questions, but at the moment, only one thing came to mind.]

Can I get one in a coconut? [He paused, giving the more logical side of his brain a chance to catch up.] Maybe with a side of "What the heck is going on?"

[candlelightsflicker]

[An eyebrow is raised at Maui. Hm. Fine. Without even a glance or a snap, the other pineapple becomes a coconut.]

A coconut doesn't absorb the flavor in the way that the pineapple does. You finish the drink, then the pineapple absorbs the remainder of the flavor. But, of course, it's your decision.

[He smirks.]

Just a friendly conversation.

[wannagetsmote]

Listen, buddy, I don't even know if I'm going to like the flavor. [Nevertheless, he plucked up his drink and (after a few attempts at figuring out how the straw worked), took a rather impressive gulp.

He regretted it approximately 5 seconds later, when the rum began to burn from the tip of his tongue to the base of his throat. He swallowed quickly, hoping that the ghost wouldn't pick up on his display.]

Uh -- [He muffled a cough as best as he could.]

Converse away? Unless you want me to start, in which case... where I am?

[candlelightsflicker]

We are in my personal domain. Beyond the confines of that...manor.

[Listen, he's a smart boy. He's able to sense that sort of thing just looking at Maui, but knows enough not to speak up about it.]

If you'd like me to change our surroundings, I'd be glad to.

[wannagetsmote]

So... you're not involved in any of that "kill each other" business? Don't suppose you know how to get us out, in that case.

[This ghost right here? So much better than the ghost host. Now all he needs is for the guy to offer him some praise, and then they'll be the best of friends.]

You know, where I come from, there's a lot more color than... [He motioned to their surroundings.] All of this.

[He sure is asking a lot of favors.]

[candlelightsflicker]

I'm afraid not. I'm not fond of the ninny that...affiliates himself with those things.

[It takes him a moment. But the world around them melts - replaced with a very familiar-looking island, with fishhooks and tallies marked on the rocks behind them. The counter doesn't disappear, however, and he takes another sip from his drink.]

Comfortable?

[wannagetsmote]

Well. At least you have good taste.

[The ghost wouldn't need Maui to respond verbally. As the world around them distorted, Maui flinched rather shamelessly. Whatever surprise (perhaps even fear) that was written on his face, however, quickly disappeared upon recognition of their new surroundings.]

Haha. Very funny. [After a moment, though, realization flickered across his features, and he shot a look at the strange man.]

How do you know about this place? [From what he'd gathered from Moana, people told stories, but no one aside from her had actually seen it.]

[candlelightsflicker]

I know lots of things. About everyone.

[LOTS OF THINGS

He chuckles, swirling his straw around in his drink.]

But a select few in your group seem more...interesting than the other members. You're one of them.

[wannagetsmote]

[Maui's expression sobered in the slightest. He leaned back, arms crossing over his chest as he studied the spirit in front of him.]

So you're a of god, then? Or at least some kind of omnipotent monster. There are way too many people from way too many places for you to just casually know about all of us.

[Admittedly, the praise convinced the demi-god to lower his guard in the slightest, but there was still a tightness in his gaze.]

Can't say I'm surprised. I've done a lot [Mini Maui waved from his usual position on his counterpart's chest.] Should I be worried that I'm interesting to you, though?

[candlelightsflicker]

Something like that.

[he chuckles. as he does so, his head disappears from his shoulders - flickering down into his hatbox. after a moment, it reappears.]

Not at all. In fact, there's the possibility that this could be more beneficial for you than not.

[wannagetsmote]

[UH. Once more, Maui found himself frantically reaching for a weapon he didn't have. His eyes were wide and wild, filled with both surprising and terror.]

How did you do that? [He shook his head, hair cascading around his shoulders. For the first time in your long life, Maui, focus.]

And, uh. How is your head coming off going to be beneficial for me?

[candlelightsflicker]

It's a bit harder to control where your head goes once you leave the mortal plane.

[he goes entirely deadpan, eyes half-closed as he addresses maui.]

I'm a powerful ally, demigod. I'd like to have you on my side if and...when I need you.

[wannagetsmote]

Guess it's a good thing I never have to leave this place, huh?

[His last alliance had all but blown up in his face. Really, it should have made him hesitate more than he did, but this guy... at least he wasn't a 6 year old princess bossing him around and dragging him across the world.

That didn't mean he wasn't wary, though.]

And... what are you going to need me for, buddy?

[candlelightsflicker]

A little...project I've been working on. I have a great many associates. But I need someone in that manor I can trust.

[he sneers, tapping his foot.]

I'm an excellent friend to have, if it's any consolidation. I can get you anything you need in return for your service.

[wannagetsmote]

[Two things came to mind, one far more selfish than the other. He felt empty and out of place without his hook. A full functioning one, at that. And then, of course, there was Te Ka. If he could navigate this place, if he could come out with the power to stop the raging monster, he'd have his glory back, just as Moana promised.

And all without having to deal with the brat of a girl.]

How far does anything go? Can you get me my Hook, fully repaired and all? Kill a monster for me? [He held out his hand.] If you can give either of those, you have a deal.

[candlelightsflicker]

That's just the thing. When the time comes, and you'll know when that is, I'll be giving you your Hook in order for you to accomplish this task.

[A mischevious glint flickers in his eye.]

The monster ordeal can also be arranged. [He extends his own hand out.]

[wannagetsmote]

And I don't get to know what this task is?

[Everything about this situation screamed "bad idea" but... some risks were worth taking. Maui wrapped his massive hand around the ghost's. Or tried to, any way. If not he's just going to shake his own up and down through the man's non-corporeal limb.]

[candlelightsflicker]

You do.

[his hand is surprisingly corporeal, cold to the touch.]

You're going to get rid of the Ghost Host. Permanently.

[wannagetsmote]

So... you're asking me to get rid of the jerk helping keep us here. And you're rewarding me for it. You're either kinder or stupider than you look, big guy.

No offense, of course.

[Maui quickly tugged his hand back, unnerved by the cold.]

You got it. One dead ghost, coming up. Double dead? I don't know.

[candlelightsflicker]

Excellent.

[his head flickers. again.]

Speak to no one about this. Bide your time for now. When the moment is right, I'll let you know.

[wannagetsmote]

What am I gonna do? Talk about myself and all the amazing things I'm going to do to help every-- [He cut himself off. He might have lacked a large amount of self-awareness, but at least even he knew that what he described was exactly something he would do.]

Uh. Anyway. Before I go. You got a name or something?

[candlelightsflicker]

...Yes.

Call me The Hatbox Ghost.