No sooner did the door open, then the feeling of 'it' faded into the background, Ling An now back into his customary moment-to-moment way of being.

"OH BoY!" A woman exclaimed with great enthusiasm. "What do we have here!?"
She asked, looking over Ling An the way a kindly grandmother might look over a child passing by, all warmth and smiles.

She held a large bowl filled to the brim with candy.

An was surprised by the door opening and the huge bowl of candy but he was smiling and when she exclaimed he laughed softly and bowed. Then remembered he was supposed to say Trick or Treat." the sensation of It leaving him always left him with a moments pause, but he was back to reality in the next second. "I am a Dao Warrior." he said proudly. The robes were in that style. Classic swordsman, he'd grown his hair to put the proper guan on.

"Of course, of course." The woman said in kindly response. And with her hands extended she presented the bowl to Ling An.

"You can take more than three." She said. "There aren't many kids out tonight." She gave Ling An a pleading look, as if she wanted him to take more than three pieces of candy, less she be left with much more candy than she anticipate. Ling An had noted a long time ago, that old people don't eat as much candy as kids seem to.

His politeness warred with her encouragements but since she was an elder he gave in that direction offered a big smile. "Thank you." he said and took a small handful for his bag. He looked around the street and nodded his head lightly. "I thought that Halloween was a big event, but it seems that some parents have been keeping their children home." he confessed he did not know why. "They went over all of the rules in school, stay to lit streets, don't bother a house that has no lights one, travel with more then one person--ah I am breaking that rule." he bit his lip. " Carry a flashlight." which was in his robe safe.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Thu 11 Feb 2021.

The old woman looked surprised by Ling An's comments. Then again, upon closer inspection, she had that old-woman-doesn't-get-out-much kind of look that all really old people tend to get at times. It was the kind of look that Ling An's Grandfather had: there was wisdom in there somewhere, but he was out of touch when it came to the current state of the world.

"Well..." The old woman started. "I'm sure more kids will come out sonny. It's probably just a little early is all." She said, when in fact, Ling An knew, it might be a little late.

"Do you want more candy?" She offered the bowl again

He realized this was one of those things where you just smiled and agreed with your elders and he glanced back out and smiled up to her and gave a nod. "With any hopes, yes." he agreed. At the offer of more candy, he took one more piece to be polite and then bowed to her "Thank you again." he said "I am sure you will still get a few more through." he gave a quick bow and turned to bounce from the porch. "Happy Halloween." he called to her waving a good bye.

An, continued to look for a small group, but proceeded to the next houses on the block.

Ling An made his way down the street. Night had fallen fast upon the neighborhood. No more than an hour ago the sky was painted with hues of red, orange and pink, but all color had faded leaving only a black canvas with no stars to be looked upon. The darkness was thick and neighborhood had no light save for the glow of lamps from the inside the homes. These dim lights, shrouded behind curtains hardly lit Ling An's path allowing him to see at most down the street.

And when Ling An looked down the street he saw a figure in the distance holding a flashlight.



Just for a second the light shined bright in Ling An's face, before the figure suddenly, and without explanation, turned it off.

He had brought a flashlight with him as well, but he had not turned it on yet. His eye sight wasn't the greatest anyway. He squinted a little bit, and turned his flashlight on, he did not flash the other person in the face. He'd tilted to the side as he waited to see what the person might do.

His flashlight, raising a little to see if the other person is dressed in a costume as well or if it's possibly an adult.

Lin An raised the flashlight just in time to see movement in the road ahead. The figure was a black outline against the homes of the neighborhood and it dashed from the middle of the street and into one of the adjacent yards before disappearing into the darkness. From the looks of it, it could have been a kid or a really short adult.

Ling An considered following along but common sense about chasing things into a new area that he wasn't sure he know was exciting. On the other hand he was eleven and the excitement of Halloween was there and gathering candy and meeting people, so he opted to be especially observant and keep an eye out for the person who had darted off, while he continued to trick or treat.

Though he made his way in that direction. Was it a kid out trying to bully other's for candy ? Or someone who thought they knew him. An didn't know. He should have asked some boys or girls in school to trick or treat with him, but the challenge was real when it came to being new.



(( Are there any kids he actually knows on his grandmother's block ? and was there any flash of costume or could he not make it out with the glare of the flashlight ? ))

OOC: Assume Ling An does not know anyone on his Grandmother's block (Main Street). Also, assume that Ling An did not see anything to indicate there was a costume on the figure.

Ling An made his way in the direction, trying to be as observant as possible.

Suddenly, and without warning, a voice called out from the bushes. It was coming from the direction where the figure had dashed off to.

"Corey? Corey is that you?" The voice whispered in a harsh, searching desperation. "Corey, if that's you, this isn't funny." The voice called out to Ling An. A kids voice. And from the sound of it the kid was a boy and not much older or younger than Ling An.

He gave a pause and stared at the bushes and tipped his head lightly. "I do not know a Corey." he stated. "That is not me." he stated with reassurance. The soft accent likely gave that away in aces too. "Why are you hiding in a bush ?" he inquired of the other. He wished he got out more or met kids on his grandparents block now. He might have been able to help this person if he knew others.

"Are you okay ?" he inquired.

Ling An moved closer to the spot but not close enough he couldn't get a burst of speed if he needed to, to get back to the street.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Wed 17 Feb 2021.

There was a long pause. A gust of wind came by and chilled Ling An's face, specs of dirt stinging his skin. A plastic bag blew by, one edge catching a stray branch of the bush and sticking to it. The figure said nothing for a while, as if considering what Ling An had said.
"You're one of the new kids on Main Street." the voice said in a searching manner, as if trying to put Ling An in a box that could be categorized and understood. And was there also, perhaps a hint of desperation in the voice as well? In any case, the silhouette with the flashlight that was talking to Ling An was right: Ling An lived on Main Street and in fact, the two of them were talking in the dark on Main Street at that very moment.

"Oh no. I'm not alright." The voice said in a voice that sounded like the kid was more chilly and cold than afraid. "I haven't been alright since all of us on Rodeo Drive have figured out what's going on." The kid said with dramatic overtones.

He adjusted the layers of his robe around himself and considered. "What happened to the kids on Rodeo Drive ?" he asked a wide sleeve protecting his face from the worst of the wind luckily he wore three layers with his robes, the outer one was as good as jacket.

Ling An had only recently gotten here, he was a good student a quick study, but the social aspect was his weakest element. He felt like he should back off and allow this boy to look for Corey, undisturbed. Yet, part of him the kind part wanted to help.

I am not sure what the roll would be for that, to see if he's heard any rumors about Rodeo Drive Streetwise ? Investigation ?

OOC: Ling An may Roll an Intelligence + Streetwise roll with the following results

0 Successes: Ling An is unable to think of anything he has heard regarding what has been going on

1-3 Successes: Ling An does recall one detail that stands out....

4+ Successes: Ling An remembers two details of what has been happening and knows specifically how it might affect him

Seeing as he could not remember anything he had heard. He supposed he really did need to get some friends in hindsight. He was drawing a blank he supposed it was better not the dwell on it. Instead he opted to ask another question.

"Why are you hiding ?"

I got no successes- I forgot what a harsh mistress this site's dice roller can be

Ling An tried to think of different things he may have heard regarding Rodeo drive but nothing came to mind. Before the kid in the bushes could answer Ling An, headlights appeared over the crest of the hill.

Car was coming.

Its lights bore down on Ling An--even though he wasn't in the road--and there was a screeching sound as the car accelerated.

"Quickly! Get into the bushes with me!!" the kid yelled and he waved his flashlight in a motion, beckoning Ling An to get into the bushes.

He moved quickly to hide in the bushes, and try to drop from the line of sight of the accelerating car. Still curious as to what the hell was going on. He chose the edge of the bushes so he could still run if he needed too. Since there was the sensation of the unknown, and Ling An offered up a prayer to his ancestors, so the stories looked like it might be a truth.

The car screeched by and someone--an older kid--threw something out the window. An unintelligible jeering from the back of the car, loud big kid voices laughing and yelling. There was a cracking sound and Ling An found that his hands were suddenly wet.

Egg yolk. And it was covering Ling An's hands.

As the car sped away, Ling An could hear the deep breathing of the kid next to him in the bushes. He could see his face by the light of the flashlight. A blonde-haired kid who was somewhat short of stature.



"When you hear a car coming on Halloween you always have to move to the side of the street where they can't reach you."

The kid bent down and picked something up, then held it up to the flashlight.

An unbroken egg that had landed in the grass, just in front of the bushes.

"Not every car has kids throwing eggs. But you just don't know which one will have the older kids doing it. And just when you let your guard down, that's when it happens."

"I'm Gary." he added, as an afterthought.

Ling An gave a little nod of his head. "I guess you can tell this is my first Halloween huh ?" he asked ruefully. A scowl on his face as he shook the egg yolk on his hands though he glanced to the unbroken one. "Your pretty lucky." he pointed "That didn't break." gloved finger pointing at the egg that lacked any cracks. The glove part of his costume came off.

"Ewww." he managed with a huff. "Hello Gary, I am Ling An, or just An." he chuckled "Those so say it is a girl's name it is also my name." he crouched behind the bushes. "There haven't been many kids out, barring the asshole older kids." his gloves were going to need to be washed. they were peeled off an stuck in his belt.

"What did you mean what happened to the kids of Rodeo Drive ?" he voice dropped low. It seemed important to keep his voice down.

"Rodeo drive? Gary repeated the words as a question and An could see he was actually somewhat nervous himself after the encounter with the car. His flashlight wobbled and his voice cracked before leveling out as he answered An.

"I'm from Rodeo Drive. And Edith on Rodeo Drive has started a super-secret-duper investigation into what's happening on your street. Because on Main Street, where you live, kids have been disappearing. I was out here with Corey looking for Sara because she's the only one that knows about a clue we found." Gary fell silent for a second.


"But I lost Corey after another car came. We ran to the each side of the street. Now I can't find him." He said the last words with some panic in his voice.

He gave a soft hum and stayed leaned down to avoid any more cars with eggs. "Oh, its on MY street ?" he asked surprised. "My grandparents live on this street." he explained quickly. Considered though and sat up a little, he wasn't a tall kid himself.

It was the tug at his heart strings that the boy had lost friend, and having a soft heart was never a weakness except when you needed to go home before curfew. Still, someone needed help, isn't that what his parents would do ? <blue>"Where do you loose him ? Maybe I can help you find him ?" he offered. "I might also be good at helping with clues." he offered softly.

The boy's shoulders sagged.

"I lost him, umm.... Gary started, confused. Quickly his confusion gave way to annoyance.

"Cory was complaining and then he ran off." And he shined his flashlight indicating it was up the road. "He just ran off. He always does that. And now Edith is going to blame me and I'm going to get in trouble." He kicked petulantly at the ground, a few leaves.

"And then I'll get kicked out of the club." He finished, his logic bringing him to the worst case scenario.

He did not know anything about a club but he knew some things about investigation and he was okay he supposed at figuring out things. "I could help you if you want." he reinforced. "Either talk to Edith...or...find this boy who has run off." Ling An did not want to think the worst of the absent boy, but who deserted their friends, it seemed alien to him.

He also rose to his feet and glanced around for cars. "What would you like to do ? I have plenty of candy, the kind old ladies on this block seem to have so much." only he paused. "I didn't go to the witches house, Grandmother said their is a witch on the block so I avoid it."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

The boy's shoulders now raised with newfound hope at An's suggestion and offer of help.

"Oh gosh! I'd really appreciate it. Gary beamed, relief in his voice. "If you could just, help me find Corey and then we can scout out the old woman's house? The....witches house?" He weedled, as if the suggestion might be too much for Ling An to agree to.

"Yeah, that's the thing. The witch. That's what Jimmy called her. But Edith is really in charge of the club and Jimmy is just a half member and..." He trailed off, perhaps realizing he was speaking of things that An had know knowledge of.

"Look, it's like this. There's a woman on your block that isn't a real woman. She's a witch. Or....an alien." He spoke the last words like her being an alien was his own personal belief on the matter. "And she's kidnapping children. And Edith is leading the investigation. Corey and I were supposed to scout out the house. You know? Just take a look from afar to see if any kids that went trick or treating were tricked into going inside. Then report back to Edith, that's all."