Christmas Eve

[skeleton_king]

Jack doesn't attempt to leave the custody of Gene as he leads the search party into the forest, map in hand.

There are a great many more doors now, each with a pumpkin, and as Jack comes into the vicinity they seem to give a little click.

He turns to the search party.

"Spread out and search each area of the forest." he says. "There is likely to be monsters behind these doors, preventing the retrieval of the first Santy Claws. Your Santy Claws is, I think, in the hands of a creature called Oogie Boogie, the former king of Bug Day, who appears as a big sack full of bugs. If you find him, or you get into trouble, shout for help at once. The other monsters should not hurt you too severely, but they will attack, so your best bet is to force them back into the door."

Comments

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"Unless there's been a monster duck hiding out at the lake all this time."

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"Oh, don't even."

He might end up with anatidaephobia.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"What? There might be," she teases.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"I wish I could argue."

Fragging Milliways.

"Is that another door?"

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

Fragging Milliways indeed.

"I believe so."

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"Any bets what's behind this one?"

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"Hopefully not more ducks."

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"Maybe it'll be... ummm... a goat."

Or a brand new car!

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"Or a rocking horse."

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"Or killer potted plants. I'm not ruling anything out."

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"Okay, so when did you see 'Little Shop of Horrors'?" Dani asks.

She reaches out and puts a hand on the knob, but doesn't pull it open yet. "You ready?"

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"What, it's been done?"

(If he ever does see it, he might recognize Bob's old friend Seymour...)

He raises his gauntlet and poises his right hand to either steady his arm or go for his sword. "Ready."

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

Dani stares blankly at him for a moment, then shakes her head. Now she knows what they're seeing on their next movie night...

"Okay, here goes." Taking a deep breath, Dani carefully pulls open the door.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[face_in_the_moon]

Behind the door, it's dark, at first; but there are some colourful lights in the middle distance, and a deep voice humming a jazzy tune.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

Enzo shoots a glance toward Dani. Under his breath: "Flashlight or stealth?"

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"Stealth," she whispers back.

And with that she reaches out, grabs Enzo by the hand and turns them both invisible.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[face_in_the_moon]

There is rumbling, and creaking, and a deep chuckle in the distance. Right ahead of Dani and Enzo, there is something like a narrow metal tunnel leading very gently downwards.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

Enzo walks as lightly as he can; Dani can fly them if necessary, but better to save her power.

He can't swear their target is at the end of this tunnel, but whatever this is, it's certainly not ducks.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

Definitely not ducks.

Dani may not be flying, but she can at least float and keep her feet off the ground completely.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[face_in_the_moon]

No ducks.

Unless ducks cause jazz music and clanking.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

"Well," Enzo murmurs, "it'll make an interesting fight score."

Fighting to a soundtrack at all is unusual outside of Games.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

"I've heard worse," Dani concurs.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[face_in_the_moon]

Something groans in the distance; you can't tell if it's a person, or some long-suffering, rickety machinery.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[a1enzo]

Enzo slows for a moment, then starts walking rather faster.

Re: Team 3 - Dani and Enzo

[ami_imperfect]

Dani finds herself being dragged along a little bit due to Enzo's increase in speed, but after a few more paces she manages to get her feet on the ground so that she's running alongside him.