Spooky Scary Skeleton (And Other Friends) [Closed]

[sassafrisk]

Who: Frisk, Papyrus, Baiken, Kuja, and Chara
When: All throughout October
Where: The spookiest of spookplaces in Vaikuntha
What: Frisk gets a'exorcisin', and they call on a few friends to help out.
Warnings/Notes: General fun spoopiness, will tag further as needed

Frisk was always a fan of haunted house rides. At least when the staff wasn't chewing them out for sneaking in. The real thing, surprisingly, wasn't all that more creepy, and definitely more cute. At least sometimes.

[OOC: Separate toplevels for separate quests.]

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RIME OF THE ANCIENT MOGINER (closed to Papyrus)

[sassafrisk]

Most days, Frisk came home from school on a public airship. It was cheap, it was easy, and there was generally no fuss about it. But with Vaikuntha’s general spookiness level on the rise, bad weather and air monster attacks have also increased, and so the school airship line had gone on strike until everything calms down or they got paid enough to deal with that crap. At least Myste Aura wasn’t too far from the Center by boat.

However, today was a very special day. Or had been a very special day, in any case. Parent-teacher conferences had begun, and since Papyrus was the closest thing Frisk had to a “parent” on Vaikuntha, he was obligated to come. The meeting had gone… well, it could’ve been better. Perhaps as expected, Frisk had been involved in a higher-than-average number of mischievous escapades, and while they clearly had potential, Frisk just didn’t pay enough attention in class. As a consequence, their grades were just north of failing.

Oh, and apparently Frisk needs glasses really badly.

So now they’re avoiding Papyrus, awkwardly looking away from him whenever he approaches and being generally unresponsive. Frisk even used a smoke bomb a few times just to get out of conversations with him, although that may not be necessary anymore as the fog slowly thickens…

[einspine]

The conference was worrisome, but Papyrus was far from the type to look down upon a struggling student, especially one so dear to his heart. He'd tried so hard to cheer them up. To get them involved in some fun studies and experiments. To bring a smile to their face.

It didn't seem to be working, but he's nothing if not stubborn, so he dashes out, seeking out his friend. Trying to, well, maybe not corner them, but encourage them to stop being so gosh darn evasive.

His voice is impossible to miss.

"FRIIIIIISK!"

[sassafrisk]

Papyrus finally corners Frisk on the edge of the ship as the fog draws closer, growing more thick with every moment. The look on their face is somewhere between panicked and resigned. Logically, Frisk knew Papyrus would be accepting and understanding. But they still felt incredibly ashamed for "disappointing" him, as if that was possible.

"I-"

Frisk is saved by the bell. Literally. An ominous tolling rings across the sea as the once-choppy waters freeze over, stopping the boat in place. Half-rotted fish carcasses swim through the air, passing through Frisk's body and leaving behind and ectoplasmic chill. And the mists begin to draw together, forming a sea-tossed, broken moogle.

[einspine]

...Oh. That's. Unexpected. So unexpected, in fact, that he freezes in place, eye sockets googly, and glances about. The smell nearly makes him gag, and the chill leaves him shivering. And then the Moogle ghost appears.

Gulping, Papyrus waves a hand to wave. "WHY HELLO THERE, MY GHOSTLY GUEST!!! IT'S. NICE TO MEET YOU?" He's not scared. Whatchu talkin' 'bout?

[sassafrisk]

The moogle lets out a frozen breath, reeking of brine and dead fish, that washes all over the deck. All of the rest of the passengers have disappeared into the mist. "Shall thee heareth mine own tale? Tis the only way to releaseth me from mine own bondage, and to giveth thy ship free passage."

Frisk looks at the moogle blankly, cogs clearly turning as they decipher its speech. They ultimately turn to Papyrus and shrug.

[einspine]

...That's eerie. Extremely eerie. So eerie that Papyrus turns about, trying to figure out where the others went. Thankfully, Frisk remains, netting a small sigh of relief.

Still, the Moogle's request seems simple enough. Listen to a story? Free a troubled spirit? Once the initial shock wears off, Papyrus cracks an enormous grin. "WHY, OF COURSE! WE'D GLADLY HEAR YOUR STORY!!!"

[sassafrisk]

"Um. Yeah. Sure. That sounds amazing," Frisk says, not nearly as enthused as Papyrus. Unfortunately for them, they haven't gotten used to real NotTM month spookiness on Vaikuntha yet, so this was kind of lowkey-highkey super freaking them out.

And so the moginer begins his tale. Taking the albatross from around his neck and presenting it to his unwilling audience, he speaks in a low, mournful drone.

"This is a st'ry of how, through mine own owneth folly,Ii didst causeth the deaths of many, kupo.

"Years ago, ov'r a flote halcyon and frozen, an albatross did guide us home ev'ry journey. T'wast nearly w'rshipp'd by us, an eidolon in its owneth right, kupo.

"Yet, one fateful night, at which hour the fog hath drawn ov'r the ocean in a deathly drear, and I hadst gone a did bite too deep into the nut supplies and wast a wee did bite peckish, I didst spoteth the bird, kupo.

"In mine own arrogance and inebriation, I hath killed the albatross with mine own harpoon. Minutes aft'r, the first of us kicked the bucket of kupo nut ov'rdose.

"The rest hath followed in m're hours, kupo." The moginer is interrupted by the fog's parting and ice melting, revealing a rotting ship floating on calm sea. Ghostly moogles gamble on its deck as the ship draws nearer. "There! There do my crewmates gamble with mine own soul as retribution for my foolishness! I beg of thee, play with them and free me, kupo!"

[einspine]

Papyrus turns to Frisk, frowning, before setting a hand on their shoulder for support. While he listens, he remains close. Their fear is certainly tangible, and far be it from him to ignore a friend in need, even while aiding a ghost.

As the story goes on, though, he starts to shiver and wince. It's... not a happy tale. Not by a longshot. The bird's fate certainly doesn't help. But when the spooky ship sails close, it's enough to bring out those googly eyes in full force.

Then he raises a finger. "A QUESTION. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LOSE?"

[sassafrisk]

"Nothing! Please, I beg-"

"Got it," Frisk says, cutting the ghost off. "We'll do it." Despite the fact that they look just as terrified as Papryus, there was no way they weren't going to do this. Sure, they were scared as all hell, and sure this whole deal sounds kinda sketchy, but... Vaikuntha was their chance to be a hero. It was even in the job description. They couldn't just leave this poor ghost moogle in the lurch.

So, with quaking legs, Frisk crosses the plank, shooting a glance behind them to make sure Papyrus is following.

[einspine]

Naturally, Papyrus follows, though like Frisk, there's hesitance to his movements. He looks down, then looks back up, squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his fists. He just has to be strong. For Frisk's sake! And for this poor, tormented soul.

Once they reach the other side, he shakily points to the ghosts. It's fine. Nothing to worry about. "GREETINGS, SPIRITS! WE HAVE COME TO CHALLENGE YOU IN ORDER TO FREE THAT POOR MOOGLE'S SOUL!!!"

Hopefully this wouldn't backfire.

[sassafrisk]

The skeletal spirits offer a predatory smile. They say nothing, instead gesturing for them to sit down. Gulping, Frisk takes a seat. They could handle this. It was basically the same as the dice games they played to pass the time and when they needed some extra-

Oh. That was always an option. They might not have a microwave, but Frisk did have the next best thing. Gaining some confidence back, they return the spiritual sailors' smiles with a sharky smirk of their own.

[einspine]

Papyrus follows Frisk, plopping down beside them. However, Frisk's snarky look ears one raised, bony brow. He's half-tempted to ask what they're up to, but instead, he stays quiet. Watches. Waits for his chance to move.

What's the worst that could happen, really?

[sassafrisk]

"I insist that you two go first," Frisk says, nonchalant. Everything about them screams nonchalant, in fact so much so that their very nonchalant-ness makes them seem rather un-nonchalant. After the skeletons make their roll, a ten, Frisk snatches up the dice. For a split second, Papyrus can see a bright orange glow in their hands, but it fades before he can identify exactly what it is.

The dice fall from Frisk's hands, landing, rolling, and eventually settling on... perfect boxcars. "Read 'em and weep," Frisk says, kicking back and putting their hands behind their head.

[einspine]

That's... cheating. Papyrus frowns, opens his mouth to speak, but decides against it. It's... for a good cause, right? Even if it's shady.

Well, no matter! He can do this without resorting to cheating. Hopefully.

Shutting his eyes, he takes the dice and gives them a good shake. Luckily, he lands an eleven! Maybe not quite as great as Frisk's roll, but nothing to sneeze at either.

And so he heaves a sigh of relief and settles back down.

[sassafrisk]

The skeletal spirits scowl at the normal skeleton and Frisk, before grumbling and waving them away back towards the boat. Frisk gives them a cheeky bow, whistling and tossing the dice as they cross the gangplank. The Moginer greets them, openly weeping and prostrating himself before Frisk. "Oh, thank Great King Moggle Mog, I'm free! Freeeee, kupo! The worst part of that curse was having to talk like that all the time, it was so annoying! Being trapped in the netherrealm between life and death, constantly tortured by my former comrades, was also pretty bad, kupo. I guess."