#ElliexScout

[orleans-jester]

Frank wasn’t dragging his feet about any of this, which might have been an odd thing considering. No, actually, he had some pride in what Feral had grown into. In part because of him, but mostly because of Delta. Her power was intimidating, and that was one of the many reasons why he loved her so much, had from the beginning. They weren’t just showing off the castle, but the people on the bus were seeing the transformed streets, the darkness of the woods. They could rival Halloweentown in it’s spookiness, but without all of the corniness. He didn’t have to inherit shit from his father. He earned this through Delta.

Also, the night was sure to be entertaining. Add dashes of Halloween, this crazy crowd, everyone in their costumes, who knows what kind of amusing thoughts are going to be going on inside of their heads? Frank intended to catch as many as he could, laying out a wide net, filtering in the best for Delta. It wasn’t really a ball without a little drama, now was it?

The guests were arriving, and they had a lot to look at. Of course Delta and Frank were a spectacle of their own, him in his tight leather costume, looking almost like a bladeless S&M Edward Scissorhands. Then there was the setup of the Ballroom, the decoration, the drinks and all that were set out for their guests, as if they had come to a King’s court.

Beagles, Laveaus, Belleroses, Trouillefous - and other. A mishmash of people who had collided over the years.

And Frank had a careful eye on it all.

GoGo moving to dance with Scout and Neb, Ellie joining in, making a silly dancing group. Only thing was, GoGo always looked a bit silly when she danced because the girl had absolutely rhythm. Her dancefloor was the racetrack. She wasn’t winning her way onto Delta’s dancetroupe anytime … ever.

Maddy was whispering to Bastien, admiring the way that everyone was looking ronight - nothing but complimentary and wondering who they should approach first - when Piper had gone ahead and made that decision for them. Her smile was genuine, like it always was when she saw Piper after a while. And then she bit down on her lip to hide in the giggles at her husband’s reaction. He’d told her about the eyes. She’d seen some of them at their wedding when Frank had given her glimpses into Bastien’s mind. So she caught on right away as to exactly what Piper was doing. It was also easy to tell that it was Piper - who else would wear something so bold?

“It’s a party no one could miss,” Maddy said, holding onto Bastien’s arm.

“Okay,” She nodded to Piper, and slowly let go of Bastien. She was excited for this dance, for the costumes, for all of it. “Hmm - it’s up to you, but I think he’d like to see it again.”

Dapper? Oh yes, Thomas was that and more. Valerie did so love Thomas in a suit, almost as much as she liked him in jeans with his toolbelt... almost. There was just something about those jeans and his boots. But woo-wee when that man went for dashing he actually pulled it off. Not all men could. Suits often wore men and guys all had a tendency to look like these poor things attempting to look grown up, mature, or that they have more grace than they actually do. It never works. The suit wears them. Not Thomas though. He can wear damn near anything and pull it off as a true gentleman even though Val knows quite well he can be quite the naughty fucker in bed. Yeah, he handles his suits and wears them well along with everything else including his beard at every length he'd let it grow.

No matter how cliche it might be there was hardly a more beautifying feeling than seeing such a composed man as this jaw drop and then realize it was because he set his eyes on you. Valerie looked down at herself. She'd been saving that dress for awhile wishing for a proper occassion for it besides one of their own backyard dates as fun as those might be to make up reasons to dress up. Watching his face made her own jaw slack, her chin tilt down. She pushed her hair behind her ear as a way to stabalize the high this man sending through her with just his face. His expression was priceless. Then he opened his mouth. Oh lordy, her private poet was at it again...and quoting Poe during a Halloween Ball of all times. She didn't always know if he was quoting, usually was, or if they were his own words, but Poe was one of the few he sometimes recoginized since Val tended to read darker tales when reading on her own. So, she couldn't hold back her grin at all.

"I feel far more precious than Annabelle Lee when you look at me."

It was true. She had a way of knowing she could slay, but her under-the-bed days despite being shed and long past, still lived somewhere under her skin like something in her wasn't always sure it was okay just to simply exist. Thomas's eyes always fixed that. He was her onion picker like in Holes and her personal poet. She hoped she contributed something here.

As they rode up in Treebeard's branches to the castle Valerie couldn't help but whisper, "I still feel like Merry and Pip on our great adventure whenever we get to do this. It must mean tonight's going to be special." She decided traveling in Tree had to have been a good omen.

On the bus Speed was going on overhead. Who didn't adore Keaneu or Sandra B? Win-Win. Dale was actually paying attention to it about the time Ellie and Babyface showed up and it all the emotional hugging and cussing commenced.

Chip's wives really could not stop staring at Iorek. They were very used to Chip and him continuously bringing more animals than one family would normally take care of, but a polar bear? Yeah, okay... Fig had him beat with that one. This was a first for them. One even slapped him and asked why they didn't have a polar bear. Koda would give her the evil eye like she was being offensive just to fuck with her. Pippin was going to be watching her bear language use for the rest of the evening. At least Elsa wasn't the only one distracted by the polar bear in some kind of way.

Scout would look GoGo up and down and quirk her right brow when she saw her Morticia outfit. "Classic. My Dad loves dressing up as her." She meant Flotsam though she didn't specify, but that quirk did not come down out of her hairline. She was unabashedly checking her digs out. "Damn girl. You look... like...excuse the Paris Hilton speak, but seriously... just really hot tonight." Scout couldn't not say it. She always called 'em like she saw 'em, just like the rest of her family.

That's why Dale chimed in after. "Let me see." If Scout thought so he wanted a better look. So he absolutely let himself take Laveau's worth of eyeballing her. "Damn GoGo. She's right. What'd you go and do? Grow up while I was away in Peru?" He said acting like he hadn't seen her since. "You are looking fly."

Then Chip would say, "You could also be good at being the other mother on Coraline. She was so spindly like a spider. You just need buttons for eyes."

Yup the Laveaus were in the house always calling 'em out alright.

Jenna said, "How about we sew buttons on your eyes Chippy?"

Chip would give one of those blank looks like he had no idea he inadvertantly put someone down and they weren't really sure GoGo's threshold for it. "What? It'd be a good group costume. I was thinking I'd be Wybie."

Dale shook his head. "Oh you mean the character who gets his voice sewn shut because he doesn't know when to shut up?"

Chip's wives were giggling. Koda laughed too until he heard what Ellie called out as she was saying her hellos to her Aunt Elsa in the middle of all this. Should she call him uncle yet? Oh geeze. Oh geeze. So maybe they were starting to be a thing, but that was probably a little too soon.

Koda almost balked though. He got thrown and had that wiggle wobble neck people get when they're anxious about whatever is about to come out of their mouth. "Oh, I don't know....depends..." Then he managed a comeback. "I would say definitely yes if you're looking for a wrassling match. You'll be calling uncle with me faster than anybody you know."

Babyface wanted to Kelso burn her so bad but held off because he was trying to do the stick by his lady thing. So, instead he said, "You clearly haven't ever seen my Hell's Ells in action. You're gonna be calling her uncle."

Everyone paused for a moment because he didn't say it quite right, but that was Babyface. He knew what he meant. So, did everyone else. Dale was cracking up. It was so good to have everyone back in the same room again. Dale's spirits went from emo-depresso to wanna get his drank-on real quick. He was having and they weren't even at the castle yet. They were only on Figaro's bus.... with the polar bear... and his Coke... watching Speed... and taking jabs at one another. Oh yeah, this was the life.

Koda would turn after all the rukkus and say, "You always look pretty, Nizhoni." He felt the need even though it was just a teenage niece bagging on her fashion sense.

Frank was right about this being important to Delta. She always said she'd be happiest if she could just go home with Frank, but as that wasn't an option of permanence she gave long thought to making the best of being in this earthly realm. She access to a few a portals that could wisk her away to other places like Christmas Town, Halloween Town, even a fairy realm. She had friends who had friends on the other side. She had her mother's grimoire in reach. She knew demons. Death. This didn't have to be like before. She referred to Flotsam often in her mind, but that was because she was angrier than him about the past.

This disturbed her. Watching Valerie/Flotsam make so much headway with Thomas in what that family calls progress boils her blood. She doesn't get it. When she let's things go she does so for completely different reasons and she's just not over her father and mother. She can't quite let it go. All of it. To see one of their most affected victims move on is mindblowing for little Delta. It dawned on her it's probably because it's not family that did it to them. Any grudges she holds against her father or mother are more easily comparable to what Flo holds against Jetsam. There's a love/anger relationship there just like she has with her parents. But, she's damned determined to not let King Triton or Maleficent's past ruin anything about her second life with Frank this go around. The same goes for Boogey, Sally, or Jack, anyone relative to the circle of their story. So, fuck yes this ball is important to Delta. She's invited the people back into her world when a little part of her hates them all for existing and not fixing everything for them while they were just kids, and all she really wants is Frank. This ball is her admitting it's time to move on.

She'll still only move on her way. Some people job. Some people drink. Delta dances.

As the bus came in and more guests filled the ball room she noticed more of her dancers had arrived. A couple of Chip's wives were in her crew now. Ray and Jenna were dancing sort. The other's not so much.

Dale was enjoying being introduced to Black Arts and Nebby. "More Beagles. I don't think the world feels right without thinking there's Beagles out there to call."

Black Arts smirked, "If Grandpappy had anything to do with it, there's more out there than we know yet."

Babyface sneered his nose as he put together what that meant. "Ew dude. Just ew." It was true though. Grandpappy got around. He knew the guy wasn't wrong.

"Where's Nebs?" When Black Arts turned around to look around the ball room to where she'd gotten off to she'd already found someone to be silly with. She'd made a quick friend in Scout. Like attracts like and the willingness to put themselves out there started to heavily ensue. Throwing Beagles and Laveaus together had a tendency to do that. So they quickly added to the dance floor. "Come on GoGo." Scout would try to lure her in so she'd have her usual big friends circle Scout tended to have. At least in her own circles.

Delta had found Piper first and told her that she wanted to get the whole dance number over with so they wouldn't have to worry about outfit changes for the rest of the night and just have fun with everyone. So it was Piper's job to rally the rest of the troops. They were all to meet in the dance room upstairs shortly so they could make their entrance, do their thing, and then they could back there to get fixed back however they wanted for the rest of the evening. Delta wante to make sure the most of the guests were there before they did it. It seemed like a good bulk of them was here. Hopefully Figaro didn't have too many more bus loads left on call.

So that's when Piper went up to Maddy in her eyeball outfit and Bastien got a good look at all those eyes. "WOAH!" He started looking all over the place, not just at Piper like her costume extended beyond her actual outfit.

"They're watching." At first he sounded haunted or spooked by it. Then the grins came to life.

"They all wanted to come to Delta's Ball. Holy shit."

He'd yet to acknowledge Piper was even there. He was totally just tripping on the eyes. Her face wasn't viewable in the costume but her voice was crystal clear, not muffled at all.

"It's me Bastien."

"I know." He answered but still didn't seem to be talking to her directly.

Piper couldn't tell what was happening with him. She leaned into Maddy and whispered, "Um we're wanted up in the studio to get ready for the dance. Should I change into a normal dress after I can't tell.. He looks so happy."

[orleans-jester]

Ellie x Scout

Ellie: hello QUEEN OF HALLOWEEN

Ellie: Your costumes are the bomb dot com.

[orleans-jester]

Thomas actually had to get ready for the ball in a separate room. He knew that if he didn’t, he’d be dropping things, buttoning up buttons wrong, not getting his tie set in place, or getting the swoosh of his hair right. Valerie would be far too much of a distraction. So he would leave her with a graceful kiss to the hand, and a ‘Try not to look in the mirror too much, or I’ll be stuck staring.’. It was easier for him to get dressed that way, plus he was a man and only a suit was really needed. He tried to look sharp. Dapper. The collar showing off beard that was growing back in nicely after the wacing fiasco. That didn’t keep it at bay for too long.

His first reaction at seeing Valerie? Jaw dropped. No, like, actually. Dropped. Down to the ground. It was close to popping. He was speechless for the first couple of minutes, and finally, the back of his fingers made their way against the mesh layer that exposed the beautiful skin beneath, feeling it. “The angels, not half so happy in Heaven went envying her and me,” He spoke softly, quoting Poe.

He treated Tree as an old friend, when they met once more. He held onto Valerie’s hand to make sure she was comfortable before he moved onto the one side and even then, his hand wrapped around the back of Treebeard’s head so he was ready to grab her if she started to fall backwards in the momentum of being carried up.

And everyone else took the bus which did not look like a normal bus anymore. It had become Figaro’s little project, keeping their mind away from the missing of their father, of their friends. Losing Lance, Arthur and Wulf had been a ttough blow. Forever fucking grateful that Willem wasn’t there, though. It wasn’t anything that a youtube video would be made on, the bus wasn’t a house but instead of seats, comfortable couches stolen from neighboring homes were screwed right down. Made it a bit more cozy. More speakers. A television where Speed was always showing. “I heard you like buses so you could watch a bus while you ride a bus,” They’d say, trying to sound like XZibit. And they still very much wore their Gilbert Garfield costume. And they very much brought Iorek, red scarf still on, as their plus one. He was housetrained and dignified and the invitation didn’t say anything about not bringing an animal. Iorek lounged in his own special air conditioned section in the back of the bus, with his own couch that took up the whole width of the back.

As for Frank, he was with Delta through all the preparations, only leaving her side once in a while to take care of something on his own, and he was dressed to the nines tonight. He nearly wore the costume again, the leather had always had a nice feeling against his skin, the braces too, but he went for something more luxurious, more worthy of a ball. He’d walk with his other head, large hand against the small of her waist, eyes scanning everyone as they came through, catching every thought. Like Thomas, he was used to being on a security detail at all times, only he used his telepathy rather than his sense of hearing or smell.

He wasn’t pleased by the Cheshire situation, his face remaining in it’s usual dead-eyed stare. He wanted this to go perfectly, for Delta’s sake. This was the first big event in Feral. The first time everyone was getting together. It mattered to her more than she would express, he knew that, so he was putting work in, or at least attempting to. Cheshire’s mind was too maddening to really read.

Thomas and Valerie, Thomas leading her in by holding her hand up in the air as if they really were the fancy people that they looked like. “Ahh - there she is, I was wondering why I hadn’t seen her around our Lothlorien lately,” He said, pleasantly surprised.

And there was Maddy, dressed like the starry night sky with that corsage on her wrist. Did it match her outfit? Not at all. Did she still accept it proudly and with a flush on her cheeks when Bastien had brought it out? Absolutely. It was a Halloween ball. Not everyone needed to be matchy matchy. She had her eyes on her husband, making sure he didn’t get too far, while her phone was tucked neatly into her bra, an app connecting her phone to the baby monitor down in their dungeon-home, ready to vibrate if crying started up.

And there was Clopin. Still in his Beef costume, rips and asscheek sticking out … tastefully. Stitched up makeup that he’d say was an homage to the King of Franks himself. He’d give a full on bow as he walked in, on his husband’s arm.

Elsa had grown a little distracted by the polar bear in the back. One would think she would be used to bears, considering who she was with. Who she had been spending all of her time with. But the woman in red did look a little confused as to why there was one on the bus. And was it -

Was it drinking a coke?

GoGo definitely joined Scout since she wanted to see Feral in all of its glory. She heard the stories about New Orleans, the way that it had been, but this was their first time in this new, darker place. She came inspired by Morticia Addams, taking a day off from studying and work - thank fuck for that. Elsa greeted them all, giving Dale, Chip and Scout large hugs. She had missed them. She wasn’t going to pretend that she wasn’t. Koda had been good for her - she was visibly more happy, almost glowing, than she had been before, rocking that sexy but still more on the conservative side dress.

Ellie came on the bus, grinning at Figaro’s costume. “Do you have a powerpoint about … what this is?” She asked the person who was dressed as a cat behind a mask of some old guy. The only way that she knew Gilbert was his voice in the Aladdin movie, so the face was totally unfamiliar.

“I’m working on it,” The muffled voice behind the mask.

And then the shout from Dale made the redhead turn her head and there he was. Her best friend. Her person, other than Babyface. There was a big hug, in which she totally wrapped herself around him, arms and legs, nearly tackling him to the ground. This was one of the reasons why she wore shorts. She knew she was going to be in a tackling mood when it came to Curls McGee over here. “Fuck you for never coming to visit!” She balked back, her grin stuck on her face.

She waved to Scout over Dale’s shoulder, and then proceeded to ruffle up Dale’s hair even further. “Yeah, I know. He loves me,” She grinned, cheesily, and finally let her legs down but kept her arm around the Laveau, her eyes then settling on her Aunt. “Hey Aunt Elsa. Hey Koda. Should I call you Uncle yet?” She teased.

Elsa tutted and rolled her eyes, though they shined with delight at finally, after ten months, seeing her niece again. She was growing up so fast. Almost looks like she went from a teen to an actual young woman. Probably came from dealing with adult problems like not having a home, and dealing with loss and yet - Ellie looked Happy. Which was all that she could wish for. “I see your attitude hasn’t changed.”

“I see your fashion sense has. You look great,” Ellie said, taking in the appearance of her aunt in formal dress. And not just stuffy old lady clothes, like … cardigans. The two women met then in a hug, and it was probably one of the few moments that she would be away from Dale or Babyface’s side all night.

Frank and Delta's Ball

Feral was open.

Invite Only. Sure. But it unprecedented that Feral let people in that didn't live there. This was first since Feral became... well... Feral.

Delta Castle was decked out. She finally decided I have a ballroom. I'm going to fucking used it and have a god damn ball. Why the fuck not?

People were busy. Friends were vacationing. It was spooky season. Voodooists had feast after feast and celebrations no one could keep up with. Witches, alchemists, magic users of all kinds knew the veil was thin and were in high demand. Busy bees all from necromancers to fortune tellers, mediums, to paranormal investigators. Still, even the Laveaus knew how special the invite was. They were going to take the time to come to Delta's home. Her home. Not just feral. What a thought really. The very idea she was allowing people to bring plus ones was really something else. Though Valerie suspected if anything went wrong Delta would have the last laugh considering at that point whoever fucked with her at that point could never leave. So it was a pretty trusting giving situation all things considering.

Valerie was dressed like a daughter of October, her hair all flouncy She didn't have many chances to truly wear big extravagant dresses aside from the theater, but it really depended on the show. Most everyone would come in through Figaro's bus except Valerie and Thomas. They'd be the only one's who didn't. They'd get a personal escort from Tree. He'd show up for them and give them a ride in his branches up the mountainside to the castle, an Ent-Walk if you will, the VIP service. The best part would be Valerie noticing Tree had a bow tie on down around his lower trunk. He dressed for the occasion.

"Looking handsome, my friend. Looking good. I missed you."

Going through the doors of the castle everyone would be given a gift bag with party favors. There'd be a keychain inside that said Stay Feral. It was starting to be Delta's little catch phrase when she showed face on tv or podcasts. She didn't do a lot of PR as she wasn't much into that sort of thing, but it did happen. She and Frank did go out sometimes and they'd get approached.

The place would be packed too. Valerie hadn't expected it to be quite so populated considering what she heard of Feral, but Delta invited a large amount of fae from the other realm. They all came in from the hidden tree door in her childhood bedroom. The portal had always been there and it was getting more use now than ever before. She was slowly getting to know her homeland even when she wasn't there just by Diablo's shared mind with Maleficent. Then when she did make visits the puzzle pieces would mold together so much faster. She could learn at advanced speeds.

By the time anyone from the outside got there the fae were dancing and it would look like a full party. Where was the music coming from? That's what Delta wanted to know.

The DJ booth was empty. How long could it play on it's own? She should have known better than to hire a cat. Where the Hell was that cat now? At the buffet again. Of course. Right next Zero. "Cheshire. What are you doing?"

Chess pointed at Zero. "He wanted a bone. So I had to eat until I found the right one to throw to him. He's very patient. A very good dog."

There was a whole plate full of eaten meat with just the bones left piled up high at least a foot on it next to him. She glared at the plate.

"These are soup bones. Not throwing bones."

"Mhm. That's nonsense."

"I know. I can't believe there's not been one good throwing bone in all this buffet yet. You should really talk to the chef and get a refund."

"I. Am. The. Chef." Delta said through gritted teeth.

"I see. My. My. Well, now we know why Daddy went out of business, don't we?"

"Get back in the booth, CHESS!"

"Touchy. Touchy." Then she really just laughed as she disappeared into curls and swirled herself back into the DJ booth.

Delta looked at the plate and there was Zero staring at her. Delta rolled her eyes and threw them all right at him. Bones scattered all over the floor. At least Chess was good for rave effects all wrapped up in a furball. But, she really did need her to stay at the booth, at least until after the dance with her girls. She needed her to be ready in case she signaled because there wasn't a set time for it. She was going to wait till everyone was ready. Plus, no one in weird costumes or big dresses was dancing in that shit. They had to do a quick change up for it first. She needed the DJ to pay attention. After she could slack.

Funny enough Zero wasn't the "dog" there. Willem had brought Slippery with them so there was a real dog that was pretty happy about that pile of thrown ribs.

Then in the most random thought Delta tilted inspired by the bones. She walked up to the DJ booth and requested, "Bone Thrower by Revolution Smile." It was exactly ball room music, but this was her ball. What did people expect? Knowing the lyrics by heart as outsiders started to pour in it almost felt fitting. It wasn't an ode to the outsiders she invited. But, it sure was an ode to the outside world right now. Fuck everyone but the people she allowed here. Her weird ass quirky misfits and monsters, even the annoying ones like Chess.

The rocker in Valerie's heart walked in during this with Thomas smiling, like fuck yeah. The lights were all over the place. This place was kick ass. She didn't even know Chess was going to be here. Her smile widened when she noticed her at the DJ booth. "Look love. It's Chess."

Then there was Bas and Maddy. They lived right downstairs and would arrive right after their vacay just in time. So, they didn't have far to get here. All they had to do was come up their lighted steps.

Bastien would have taken some of the good stuff tonight and the lights were tripping him out. Everything was messing with his senses and he was lost in a world of his own and that included the bass and his wife's skin and perfume in the middle of the dance floor.

For those than can see he gargoyles they'd be all three be sitting on their rears in chairs with their arms over the ledges glasses on, or half cocked and crooked on their heads giving people nods and peace signs who walked by. Even his voices were high.

Then there's going to be Kuzco. The man has no shame. Ball? Were they supposed to get dressed up? Shrugs. All he knew was there was music and costumes allowed. This guy never wore anything normal. He shows up in ALF costume, but not just any Alf costume. It was a plastic horrid 80's kid's costume with the wretched masks that cut your face and no one could ever breathe in.

He managed to get a hold of the largest size possible, but it still didn't fit him even though he was a pretty small guy. Almost but no cigar. So he cut the legs and wore it like a poncho over his clothes. He'd say, "Here kitty kitty to Chess" way too many times all night since Alf liked to eat cats and not in the sexy way.

Willem and Nutmeg were in a circle of fae dressed as fauns comparing their fake horns to people with real horns having loads of fun with it. Everyone was hamming it up loving sharing the concept with each other. Imitation was flattery. They did feel flattered.

While all this was going on Figaro was getting a round of passengers to haul up. Koda and Elsa being in the round coming up. Koda invited his uncle to come along but he passed on the situation this time. Maybe next time if Delta let people in again. If this went well who knew? Dale and Scout were also in this batch and if GoGo was accepted an invitation to come with Scout she would too. The triplets and the Savanne kids were being babysat by Caim's people this time. Jules had a bunch of kids despite the exterior lack of responsibility. Tray assured them no he could handle it. If the halfling could handle a coven of vampires, and survive Hell as half human, he could handle a few pups and a couple zombies. They were going to be alright with Unkie Jules and Tray. Scout was a little disappointed her buddy Tray wouldn't be with her this round, but he insisted she go since Feral was going to be full of all her old friends. She needed this.

Babyface, Black Arts, Ellie, and Nebby on this ride in too. The bus was getting pretty stoked to go on up to the castle. Dale couldn't sit down with his Barbie Box on so he put it in the seat next to him. So, he'd be sitting there with his hair nice and gelled and his crop top on when he noticed Ellie and Babyface loading the bus and talking to whoever they were with. He assumed that was the fam he kept talking about but his brain didn't go that far yet too excited with, "ELLIE!" He stood up and went running down the aisle.

First hug.

Second smile.

"God damn. Fuck you for staying away so long. Fuck you both."

Scout waved from behind him a seat over.

"He means that in the most loving way possible."