004 || video

[couldbebeautiful]

[The video opens zoomed in on—a spider. Don't worry, it isn't a real spider, it's a clearly fake tarantula attached to a web made out of cotton stuck to the ceiling, and when the camera starts to zoom out, it's clear that this fake tarantula is one of many plastic spiders dangling from the ceiling, with plastic bats in flight hanging on strings to complete the Spookiness of the bakery this video's taking place in.

Then the video shakes a little, the camerawoman getting up from her seat to walk over to the display of pastries. There's a tray of cupcakes that's decorated with orange icing and tiny little ghosts stuck on the top with a stick, in keeping with the theme that's currently going.

The camera turns to reveal Veronica, wearing this piece with a blue scarf.]

I just realized that it's the same month now that it was back home, when I got dragged here. [She says this in a tone of slight surprise.] I didn't really celebrate Halloween then, because [multiple people were dead by then and it kind of slipped her mind] I was brought here before the last week of October. But hey, apparently, I get a redo.

[Yaaaaay.]

So does anyone have any recommendations about horror movies? The cheesier the better, but I'm not opposed to horror movies that are actually scary.

[A pause. Then:] And, I'm just curious, how many people here come from a world where Halloween doesn't exist? Because, if so, happy first Halloween, you're going to see a lot more of this [gesturing vaguely towards the decorations hanging from the ceiling] until November.

Comments

video

[couldbebeautiful]

Oh, great, I don't have to explain it that much. [Thank god, she's not actually much of an expert beyond the trick-or-treating part. And the horror movie marathons.] Happy first Halloween, Loma Shade.

I—honestly have no idea, either. I guess it's 'cause they grow in the fall, and Halloween's in the midst of fall. [There's probably more to it than that, but all Veronica's familiar with is the commercial culture that's sprung up around the holidays in her time, so.] You gotta admit pumpkin spice lattes are pretty good, though.

[poreiavian]

Thank you!

The pumpkin spice latte I tried was acceptably tasteful. Pie is always good too. However, the pumpkin pie flavored smoothie I tried was disgusting.

[couldbebeautiful]

...what did they do, shove a slice of pumpkin pie into a blender with some ice?

[poreiavian]

I don't know, but it tasted that way. I threw it back at them and got kicked out of the store. I may now be banned, but I think I proved a point?

[couldbebeautiful]

That's one way to draw their attention to how shitty it tastes.

What, you couldn't have just told them?

[poreiavian]

No one listens to words, or perhaps not alone. It's a sad truth. Actions will always have a greater impact. Especially when what you want to say is "this is horrible and you should feel horrible."

[couldbebeautiful]

Unless these actions lead to you getting banned from a café, in which case, you're better off just telling them their pumpkin pie tastes bad. Or telling other people—word of mouth gets around pretty fast, in my experience.

[There's a faintly sour note there, like this was a bad experience.]

[poreiavian]

Eh. Honestly, I can't worry about what other people think of me. Society is all about dragging people through the dirt and telling them "be what I want you to be." I'd sooner get banned from a hundred cafes than be anything than me!

[ even if "being me" is being a general disturbance to the neighborhood... ]