[OPEN] Halloween Haunt at The Apothecary

[appetitive]

who: Magnus Bane (appetitive) & anyone who'd like to come!
what: Halloween & Samhain party featuring transformative potions
when: October 31st at dusk through November 2nd at dawn
where: The Apothecary (formerly known as The Quarantine Bar)
warnings: please tag threads individually as needed!

The Apothecary's Halloween Haunt

For the entirety of October, The Apothecary bar has been and will continue to be decorated in deep shades of purple and orange, not to mention a whole lot of black and an array of convincingly grim yet decidedly elegant decorations. The real party doesn't start until the sun sets on Halloween night, stretching past the witching hours and through the following day in celebration of the lesser-known Samhain. From dusk of October 31st to dawn on November 2nd, the bar is alive with magic largely thanks to the menu of six alcoholic potions whose effects are posted on menus around the bar. These menus will be placed in clear sight with moving images of each drink so that guests are fully aware of their magical properties—if someone hands you a mystery drink, you're encouraged (but not obliged) to find out what it'll do to you before partaking. Each potion lasts an average of three hours, or until an antidote is drunk. And though multiple potions can be "stacked" by drinking them without an antidote in-between, party-goers will be cautioned that some potions may mix to create strange results. Luckily, the host will be attending from dusk to dawn in order to sort out any dangerous effects.

While the drink menu is the main event, there will be plenty of other ways to find some ghoulish entertainment. Tables are laden with a variety of both sweet and savory appetizers which all paying customers are welcome to enjoy. Because of the length of the party, the kitchen will be serving a limited menu of main-course items during typical mealtimes throughout the days. And because no party would be complete without music, there will be a "live" skeleton band performing jazz, rock, and the occasional but obligatory Halloween song upon request—please use this power wisely and save your fellow party-goers from two hours of continuous Witchy Woman.

Given that this is a Halloween party, costumes are highly recommended and will be rewarded with a free drink upon arrival. If you come without a costume, bartenders will recommend trying the Monster Mash or Werewolves of London potions in order to get you more into the spirit of Halloween. Though the bar will be dotted with large couches, plush armchairs, and piles of floor pillows, dozing guests will be encouraged to go home and sleep between festivities. If you're unable to handle over thirty-six hours of continuous partying, go enjoy a nap and then return to the bar for another round later on!

◇MONSTER MASH FLAVOR flat, warm; spiced rum, cranberry juice, grenadine EFFECTS Forget your costume at home? Don't worry, because drinking this potion while result in a full-body change into a classic Halloween creature, with a twist: it's either the sexy version, or the scary one. Though the drinker will be partially recognizable beneath it, the change can be a costume of its own. Some common transformations include but are not limited to: vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, demons, and Frankenstein's monster	◇THRILLER FLAVOR flat, chilled; whiskey, bitters, sugar, orange zest EFFECTS If you're craving a change, this is the drink for you. The potion will bring about a random shift in the color of the drinker's hair, eyes, or both. Differences can range anywhere from natural shades to neon hues, as well as a variety of patterns and multi-colored or mismatched options. And don't worry, any facial hair you may have won't be left out of the fun!
◇TIME WARP FLAVOR flat, chilled; light rum, creme de menthe, lemon juice EFFECTS For those party-goers looking for a whole new perspective on Halloween, this drink offers two unique experiences. When sharing with another guest, knock the glasses together and drink simultaneously for a body swap. Feeling really adventerous? Get multiple people to join in on the fun! If you're drinking alone, you'll find that your biological sex will change from male to female, or vice versa.	◇WEREWOLVES OF LONDON FLAVOR sparkling, chilled; vodka, chambord, sparkling limeade EFFECTS Get ready to howl at the moon, or maybe fly off towards it, after trying this drink. Shortly after imbibing, partakers will manifest any number of animal traits, though all from the same animal. Perhaps it's as simple as a pair of bird's wings, or a full set of cat ears, tail, and eyes. The potion will pick up on any animal-like traits you may have, so snakes and rats beware.
◇I PUT A SPELL ON YOU FLAVOR flat, chilled; gin, vermouth, creme de cassis EFFECTS This potion is for anyone who's ever wanted to live out their dreams of being a teenaged wizard at boarding school. Though it may take a few tries to get perfect certain tricks, drinkers will be able to perform low-level spells with their hands such as: levitation, creating colored sparks, turning items invisible, elemental manipulation, summoning or conjouring items, short-distance teleporation, and a number of other simple tricks. (Any violent abuse of these abilities will result in immediate and forceful administration of an antidote and expulsion from the bar.)	◇HIGHWAY TO HELL FLAVOR flat, warm; absinthe, sugar, heatless fire EFFECTS Though this drink doesn't contain a potion, does it really need to when you're drinking something that's still on fire? This shot of absinthe, though adorned with a multicolored and edible flame, will warm you through and have you breathing the same cool fire for as long as it takes the sugar cube to dissolve on your tongue.

◇DON'T FEAR THE REAPER

FLAVOR
sparkling, chilled; blackberry syrup, cola
EFFECTS
These shots are free of alcohol and provide an antidote to every other drink on the menu. One splash of this delightfully chilled and refreshing drink will reserve all transformative effects as well as void all magical abilities. And though it is non-alcoholic, it does not provide any sobering qualities.

Comments

[scholiast]

Yeah, I–

(Lucretia is dealing pretty well all things considered until Taako presses in close and she feels his chest up against her back which makes her brain short circuit for a second– she immediately flicks her hand, and casts true polymorph upon him, turning him into a ladybug.

Get it.)

[spellslots]

[Well.

Fuck.

Taako flits up to the table in front of Lucretia so that he's not at risk of getting swatted by a stray hand, but there's really not a whole lot he can do in this situation. He might normally be able to outdo her on transmutation magic, but he's had too much to drink.]

[scholiast]

(Oh how the turn tables.

Lucretia straightens, trying to appear in control even though she's still pink in the face.)

Serves you right, (she informs the ladybug, watching it curiously as she takes her second drink from the bartender. Honestly, she had been expecting Taako to dispell it straight away and get out of her hair, but this is so much better.)

Are you out of spell slots?

[spellslots]

[As if in response, Taako flies over to land on the rim of her empty glass.

Maybe she'll get the message.]

[scholiast]

(She does. It's very very hard not to be so smug.)

Gotcha.

(Though, of course, because she's her this isn't quite as fun as it should be- if he can't use his magic, what would happen if he flew away and she lost him, or somebody tried to swat him? She sighs and considers him, stirring the ice in her drink with her straw.)

You're the worst, you know that right?

[spellslots]

[He is the worst!

That's why he's flying at Lucretia's face, to annoy her.]

[scholiast]

Ugh, Taako–

(She ducks the attack, and undoes the spell with little fanfare, flicking her hand.)

[spellslots]

[Taako manages to catch himself without too much fuss, fixing up his outfit (especially the cleavage) before he comes back to Lucretia, this time leaning against the bar.]

You know... [This is going to be bad, he's already laughing a little.] If, uh, if you got in on this potion too maybe we could make something work.

[wink]

[scholiast]

I hate you. I'll do it again, Taako, I swear–

(Lucretia's laughing too, even though she's mortified. What has she ever done in her life to deserve this! Don't make her look at the cleavage again, please, she can't handle it.)

[spellslots]

[Okay, he's done, mostly because he can't stop his giggles anymore. He drops his head onto Lucretia's shoulder, but this time there's no motive to it.]

Fuck, I can die happy like, right this second. I've peaked, nothing's ever gonna top this.

[scholiast]

You are something else, Taako, (she mutters, but there's no malice behind the words. She reaches up to ruffle his hair, hopefully ruining it.)

Don't tell Lup about this.

[spellslots]

[No he spent hours on this Bowie pompadour, don't do this]

You can buy my silence for $8000 a month.

[scholiast]

I'm serious.

(As serious as she can be almost two martinis down, in any case. Lucretia props her elbow up on the bar and faces forward resolutely.)

Go bother somebody else for once!

[spellslots]

I have a better idea. [He sounds so excited! Also a bad thing.] You know if we both drink one of those shots we can swap bodies. You wanna take this for a spin?

[scholiast]

I– what?

(Lucretia isn't familiar with the protocol surrounding the shots. All she knows is they are magical, and that's why she's been mostly avoiding them.)

No, why would I want you to be in my body.

[spellslots]

Hey, c'mon, I'd behave!

[And he means that, despite all the messing around he'd be nothing be respectful.]

And we could fuck with Magnus~

[scholiast]

(Well that's tempting.)

Do they cancel each other out? The potions, I mean.

(Like is she turning into Taako or... or into Lup.)

[spellslots]

Nah, they stack, but if you don't wanna rock the Lup look I can take an antidote first.

[It might be kinda weird to wear a body that's essentially Lup's]

[scholiast]

(Maybe a bit. There's a mess of emotions connected with that horrible idea that Lucretia isn't willing to untangle for even a second, and so she nods.)

If you do, I'll swap with you.

[spellslots]

[Taako mage hands over an antidote shot from where they're sitting at the bar, knocking it back easily and then leaning back a little to let the magic do it's thing.

It only takes a second for him to be Taako-shaped again, though he does sort of wriggle a little at the changes.]

God, that's fucking weird.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia watches the change with interest, trying to figure out how the magic works: that, and when he's finally back in his own body, she gives him a slap upside the head. She feels he deserves it.)

You're weird. What did it taste like?

[spellslots]

[He rubs his head where she smacked him, shooting her a look.]

Dick.

[Get it????]

[scholiast]

(Unfortunately yes. She snorts, and rolls her eyes.)

Hmm can't say I'm familiar– look, let's do this before I change my mind.

(Because messing with Magnus does seem fun– that and she's interested in how Taako is going to react to being in a visually older body.)

[spellslots]

[Taako signals the bartender for two of the shots, winking at Lucretia as he does.]

It's not that bad.

[Dick or the body swapping? It's a mystery that Taako is saved from answering by the arrival of their drinks; he picks on up for himself and slides the other over the Lucretia.]

Bottom's up.

[scholiast]

Cheers, (she says blithely, raising the glass to knock against his before she knocks it back. It's delicious even though it makes an unpleasant shiver ripple over her, hands twitching... and when she looks down at them, they are different.)

Oh– (she says, staring curiously at her elegantly curved nails. She'd been wondering what might swap, consciousness or body? It seems body did, as she's still sitting in the same place except now as an elf. Her ears twitch.)

This is– (something. When she looks up, she's staring into her own face.) Woah.