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 Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:44 pm
Regularly Scheduled Programming (3): With Halloween just around the corner, television stations are constantly playing various spooky themed movies and episodes of your favorite shows. When you sit down to watch something in particular, the screen goes static. You try to change the channel but every one of them is static. If you continue to watch (or attempt to fix the television), an eerie voice comes across the speakers begging for help and that they're coming. No matter what you do or say, they only repeat the same phrases. When you turn off the television and turn it back on again, everything has turned to its regularly scheduled programming...Dant came out from his overly hot shower, got dressed came out to sit on the couch. "So, Myles, I hear that it's the Halloween Season on this region on Earth - so what exactly does that entail?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2022 8:26 am
Myles had just poured himself a bowl of cereal and was chewing on his first spoonful when Dant answered; it seemed to be something he was enthusiastic about, so his face lit up and he hurried to swallow.
It was a bit chilly and, since he was home for the day, he hadn’t bothered to change out of his pajamas. Or, maybe he had; it was impossible to tell. He was wearing a kangaroo onesie that he occasionally wore around the house; he had the hood puled up and judging by the way the oversized pocket on the stomach was oddly shaped, he’d chosen this specifically to store things in the kangaroo pouch.
Myles’ eccentricity was not abnormal, but Jeremy might have gotten a bit exasperated sometimes–not because he minded! But because they wanted Dant to fit in a bit, and Myles might not have been giving the best fashion advice.
“Oh, it’s wonderful. Everyone dresses up–I mean, not everyone, but if you’re celebrating Halloween. People were all sorts of costumes, and at the end of the month all the kids go door to door asking for candy. It’s a spooky season, so sometimes people want to jump out and scare you. It’s all in good fun though, it’s not supposed to be malicious. They have haunted houses, they have fall festivals. I love it.”
He nodded to his table of candles and soaps, poured yesterday and cooled and ready to be packaged. “I’m going to a festival this weekend to sell those. I might have to make more today, my online store already sold out so I have to see what I’ll have left. But people get super into the season.”
The television was on, and during the commercials they were advertising for some candy so he nodded towards the screen while he took another bite of his cereal.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2022 8:08 pm
Dant went over to sit down at the couch and watch the tv. Suddenly his eyes went wide as a commercial came on for a movie that was to show that night, "Jameson the hockey-masked Halloween killer," and Dant was in shock - "Seriously, you people do that in fun?" "I know my people had their sins, but they didn't serial kill in fun - not even the Platinum Skin Chattel...." There was disdain in his voice, not for the people, but for the practice.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 8:35 pm
Myles almost laughed but he quickly shook his head. “No, no. It’s not real killing. No, that’s bad. Honestly, I can’t watch scary movies, I get nightmares. Jeremy tells me not to but I can’t help but try every now and then. I get nightmares and spook myself pretty easily. But most of Halloween is different, it’s like…cute spooky? Kids dress up in costumes and go door to door to get candy, and there’s a lot of seasonal celebrations. Like caramel covered apples, or hay rides, or corn mazes.”
He looked apologetic though, even as he smiled gently, “I’m sorry, I know all of this must be new and strange. Christmas is much better, but we’ll have to make sure you stay warm. Winter gets so cold. Did you have any fun holidays or traditions back home?”
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Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2022 7:45 pm
Dant thought back. "Hmm, I have so many memory blanks. Ah, the most important Holiday of all. 'Mother's Blessing'." He was quiet for a moment reminiscing. "The day would start with great games separated among the Skins, of Sports and other Contests. Unfortunately, the Platinumskins were not allowed to participate. The Games and Contests would be presided over by the Pharaoh and if, possible, Sailor Sekhmet. At dinner, there would be a great feast, and the victors would dine with Pharaoh himself and Sailor Sekhmet. "Before anyone could start, Sailor Sekhmet would make a sacrifice to Mother Sekhmet, in whose Honor, all of this was done in. Sailor Sekhmet would then offer up a burnt offering." Dant closed his eyes for a moment and was quiet, then spoke. "Once when I was a Young One, before I became Sailor Sekhmet, I heard the Tailor that I was Apprenticed talking with others and telling stories about 'ancient times', when Sailor Sekhmet did not burn the offerings. It was said that a sandstorm in the form of a funnel cloud would come up from the desert and when it came close enough to the feast, it would disperse, and there would a huge, red Lioness. Some said she was Mother Sekhmet herself. Others said she was Mother Sekhmet's servant, but anyways, she would eat the sacrifice and then let out a deafening roar and then vanish. This was said to be a sign that Mother Sekhmet was well pleased with we Sekhmites. "However, the fact that she hadn't come for many lifetimes was said to be a sign of disapproval." Dant looked down in shame. "It was also said that the Pharaohs blamed the Senshi."
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:17 pm
Myles listened fondly, with a visible smile. He seemed genuinely curious, although a bit surprised to hear that the people were so divided. His nose wrinkled a bit but he listened wholeheartedly. And then a little worriedly. He kept his best smile in place, even if he seemed a little anxious about the idea of a sacrifice.
“Oh,” he said, visibly surprised. The story had started off nicely enough, but by the end he just seemed a bit worried. “That sounds a bit more complicated than the festivals we have. Um, most of ours are for celebrating things. But no one and nothing has to get sacrificed. I mean, there might be religions or something, that…I mean, I don’t know. Jeremy and I are pretty simple and try to stay out of trouble. But,” he hesitated and then seemed to make up his mind; he reached over so he could squeeze Dant’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. Maybe there’s some other explanation for why she hasn’t come? I mean, there’s a lot going on in the universe. I bet there wasn’t anything you did wrong. And maybe there’s something that can be done to bring her back?”
“Bring who back?” Jeremy asked; he’d just finished a shower and came out with one brow raised. He didn’t know exactly what he’d interrupted, but he’d overheard enough that he could probably figure it out. He was dressed in a pair of casual black pants and a white undershirt; his wet hair was tied back in a low ponytail and skin was still a bit red from the hot shower. He gave the two a curious look as he made his way into the kitchen to get a drink.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:45 pm
Dant quickly explained all again, noting this time that what his people called 'the Sacrifice' was merely a meal made for a Sentient Lioness - cooked meat. It was burned only after they were sure that she wasn't coming, for they believed that the food was holy and that only the Mother could eat it. Therefore, it was properly disposed of afterwards. The tv had turned to static while they talked.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:35 pm
Jeremy listened to the story with one raised brow, and it was clear that he didn’t have the same romantic look in his eye as Myles did when learning out ancient worlds.
Myles looked infinitely relieved to hear that it was just cooked meat and not people, but with the way Dant was talking about things, he’d expected the worst!
Jeremy sighed heavily and looked at the television with frustration. “I swear, this thing is giving me so many problems. I’ve had to fix it twice this month already.”
It was a big box television, an old one that he wasn’t ready to get rid of. Myles and Jeremy were frugal; Jeremy saved a lot of his money and fixed what he could, and tried very had to cover the costs of Myles’ schooling and make sure they had everything they needed. It was easier now that Myles’ business was taking off some, but it didn’t stop Jeremy from walking over and hitting the top of the television with his fist a few times, trying to jostle it back into functioning.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 5:21 pm
With Jeremy hitting the tv, Dant looked over to Myles and murmured, "Does that really help?" Before Earth the only Advanced technology he'd seen was Mauvian - and of course Chaos in one way or another and those were practically magical to his people. He had gotten a good education thanks to Sailor Etamin - but even Etamin and his Library couldn't explain a lot of Technology either Mauvian or on Earth. Suddenly, Voices started coming from the television. "Help us... Save.. us.. They're coming for us..."
"Uh.." Sweat beaded on Dant's forehead.
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2022 9:59 am
Myles didn’t really understand how electronics worked, but Jeremy did, and had enough skill with it that he was regularly requested by the apartment complex for help fixing things.
Myles was visibly alarmed by the strangeness on the television, but Jeremy just seemed annoyed. “I swear,” he grumbled, and placed both hands on either side of the television to shake it a little. He didn’t seem to be alarmed by whatever creepy show was trying to play; he seemed completely invested in fixing the television.
“I’m going to buy a new television at this rate, this piece of s**t–oh,” he hit it again and the vision cleared briefly before returning to static, and he grumbled once more and began to strategically knock on it. “Just give me a minute. Why do you two look like you’ve seen a ghost?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder to look at them with one brow raised. “Myles, I told you not to watch horror movies. Dant, what did you just have on?”
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