2025-10-27 - Spook-e-oke at the Spider Walk

The perpetual tourist known as Trick heads in to the special event dressed for the occasion -- a purple suit (not too unlike his reddish suit worn in the Cluedunit event) with black patent-leather wingtips has him looking rather formal for the night. His black tie seems plain at first, but when the light catches it just so, tiny bats appear dotted throughout.

He heads to the bar to pick up a drink for the night -- something thematic and dramatic that's in keeping with the season. Of course, the entire area of the Spider Walk is always in keeping with the season, so it's easy to do.

Lennox is done up in his usual costuming for the Spider Walk -- the very fancy full Victorian suit and the pale makeup that adds to his already fair complexion, the darkness around his eyes enhancing their blue in the midst of so much black and white. He is up at the head of the room, taking the signups and calling up the contestants when it is their turn.

At the moment, there is a young woman on the stage in a scarlet wedding dress with full veil singing "Bad Romance" at the top of her lungs. She is entirely off-key but super into it. And her friends are all cheering her on from a group of chairs off to the left of the stage somewhere, lofting their drinks in the air.

Jack is in his usual attire for the Boo'ed'walk, and staying 'in character' as Jack Dawes, Gravedigger is fun for him. The dusty Victorian suit that looks dirt stained around the cuffs and hem of his striped trousers, the deadish pallor to make him look like a ghost recruiter more than a piano man, and the ghoulish grin that comes with every pun for the past tense persons is in place with it. As the young woman belts out Bad Romance, he's off to teh side with one of the waitresses doing the dance that's part Bad Romance, and part Thriller.

Trick comes away from the bar with a drink and gives Lennox and Jack each a nod before he settles into one of the comfortable arm chairs to watch the Bad Romance singer. He puts two fingers into his mouth to whistle for her, because he'll always appreciate an enthusiastic performance, even if it comes without the chops or skill to match.

It's a catchy song, too, so he can't help but tap his toes and sing along with the rah-rah-ah-ah-ahs.

When the song concludes, the crowd cheers on the singer, as karaoke is about enthusiasm and fun, not about quality, even in a place like this filled with actual performers. "Let's give it up for Cammi and Bad Romance," Lennox intones into the microphone and then says, "Next up.. we've got our very own Jack the Piano Man." He motions for Jack to get up and take the stage.

Saint shows up a little behind most of the karaoke-goers in a translucent fairy cosume in layers of pale green, shimmers of cyan, and purple. Her first stop is the bar, arriving just in time to hear Jack called to go up. She's covered in washable body glitter like she was attacked by a band of rogue tinkerbells.

Whatever she orders, it's dark purple and the bartender is garnishing it with backberries.

It's a rare free night for Garrett, between work, and his own writing he tends to hermit himself in his apartment. So when he spotted the fliers for the Spooky Karaoke, he decided to give in to his whims and go. Dressed in one of his many vintage suits, he strolls in and fetches himself a beverage before scanning the crowd. Some faces are familiar, but he tends to be a basement dweller who mostly hangs out with his coworkers. Still he claps for the person leaving the stage, at least as best as he can with a drink in his hand.

Jack (And also OTHER Jack) Start up to the stage giving Saint a lip bump on the way. Jackie2 sets up the electric piano features for percussion settings on one side as Jack Prime doffs the tophat with the cobwebs on it to the gathered. "It fills my shriveled black heart to haunt you all tonight. We're dusting this one off from the vault from last century. We'll try to do Jonette some justice." Says the French-Canadian as he gives his other self a nod to start the rythem up to "Ghost of a Texas Ladies' Man" by Concrete Blonde, but done with a bit more raspy rock-blues on it.

"I saw a face in the shower door, A cowboy smile came and faded. I reached for my towel on the floor; I didn't think it was exactly where I'd laid it" The look of shock is utterly dialed up before he cries out, "You don't scare me, you don't scare me," I said to whatever it was floating in the air above my bed. He knew I'd understaaaaaaand, he was the ghost of a Texas ladies' maaaaaaan!" Enter the background sounds of other Jack and the ghost track kicking in the oo000o0o0o0ooooohhhhhs.

"Show off," Trick says with a feigned huff and toss of his head, when the two Jacks make it clear they aren't just singing to a machine but providing their own accompaniment. "Leave some talent for the rest of us!"

He's grinning, though, and lifts his drink to the doubles, nodding in time to the tempo and parting his lips to oh-oh-ooh softly as an uninvited back-up singer.

Lennox shakes his head a little as Jack does indeed show off and Trick calls him on it. His smile is hidden once more for a little more somber and in character look as he takes the next few signups, nodding and glancing at their selections. Then his attention is back on Jack as the ghost of a Texas Ladies Man begins to haunt them. Someone must be casting an illusion, because there sure does appear to be a ghost flickering in and out of view here and there in the room, leaning casually up against the wall.

Saint calls after Jack, "Give 'em hell." She hasn't had a drink yet, after all. It's not her best game face on. At least there's no glitter transfer! She taps a foot, sweeping her drink from the bar's surface and raising it to Trick, and then to Lennox, both of whom she recognized from a few outings about the park. She may not know Garrett, but she does know a sleek vintage suit when she sees one. "Nice threads."

She turns her attention back to the stage, amused at the song choice and delivery. "Sing it, cowboy!" She laughs when the ooOooOooos kick in. Phone in hand, she texts someone a clip of the performance.

Jack Un and Deux carry on with piano, and the percussion played on the other keyboard, and encourages all to join in on the haunting oOoOOohhhs. In the bridge he lays into the piano letting his rockabilly heart run all over that keyboard.

"I reached to turn out the light, but he wouldn't let me get near it. He seemed so glad to see a person in the flesh, and I really liked his spirit/" One hand lifts to shoot fingerguns back at the ghost cowboy briefly playing on. He belts out the chorus defiantly, "You don't scare me, you don't scare me," I crieeeeed to my ectoplasmic lover from the oOoooOOooother side. He knew I'd understand; He was the ghost of a Texas ladies' man!" And with that there's a bit of the bridge before he calls out "You know the words, let's wake the dead!" And calls out the chorus to close with thunder in the piano.

He stands, and gestures to his other self and the ghost illusion of the presumed raunchy rancher. "Mercei and

While not familiar with the song, Garrett does appreciate the performance. He sips from his glass but his attention is brought to the fairy in front of him. When he looks down at his suit he smirks. "What? This old thing?" He lightly dusts off the sleeve before gestures toward her outfit. "I like your butterfly. Or at least I think it's a butterfly. Regardless it's a very nice top."

Garrett is not putting his name down to sing, as that is not something he is fantastic it and figures he should save the audience the ear pain.

At the invitation to chime in on the chorus, Trick definitely does so, though not loud enough to outshine the twin stars. "Great song and better singers," he says to the Jacks.

He grins over at Garrett and Saint. "I think we're going to all have glitter on us whether we get anywhere near her or not. Glittery by osmosis. Very sparkly. Suits you. And a good suit that suits you." The last is directed to Garrett. He's an equal opportunity complimenter tonight.

Lennox grins and gives a nod of greeting to Saint when the drink is raised in his direction. When Jack concludes his performance, he lifts his hands in applause before leaning in to the microphone and saying, "Jack Un et Deux. Let's hear it for that rousing little ditty and to the spectre who decided to show up and do that little backup number." He then looks over his list and says, "We've got a celebrity guest tonight, folks. Trick Barrett, performing for us tonight, of social media fame and frequent Spellbound flyer."

Saint treats trick to a double finger gun, somewhat hindered by the blackberry martini in one hand. "Biodegradable just like people." She siiiips from her drink, thinks better of it, finished her drink in a couple gulps, and puts the glass down so she can clap for Jack's performance. "Yeehaw and all that!"

She whistles, two fingers tucked between her lips, the shrilly whistles again for Trick. Saint really goes the volume and work of at least three audience members.

Celebrity, oh, God. Trick, for all his hundreds of 30-or-60 second reels adding up to multitudes of fifteen minutes of fame, is still humble in his way, and he has the courtesy to laugh and even, maybe, blush. He makes his way up to the stage, taking a moment to gather something from the shadows, before taking his place before the microphone.

From the speakers, a low, almost imperceptible note of electric organ begins, high-pitched, and beneath it, a slow, pulsing bass line thumps like a heartbeat, barely audible but insistent. Those who know it recognize the distinct sound immediately -- Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand."

Trick moves forward, right hand in his pocket as his left curls around the microphone stand. He leans forward, close to it, hair flopping in his face. His voice is low, a little lazy, conspiratorial almost, as he begins to sing, swaying to the mesmerizing beat:

Take a little walk to the edge of town,
Go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms,
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks,
Where secrets lie in the border fires,
 in the humming wires.
Hey man, you know
 you’re never coming back.
Past this square, past the bridge,
 past the mills, past the stacks
On a gathering storm comes
 a tall handsome man
In a dusty black coat with 
a red right hand.

At the last few words, Trick pulls his hand out of his pocket and holds up a red Elmo puppet. Trick manages to keep a stoic demeanor as he sings on for the second verse:

He’ll wrap you in his arms,
 tell you that you’ve been a good boy;
He’ll rekindle all those dreams 
it took you a lifetime to destroy;
He’ll reach deep into the hole,
 heal your shrinking soul.
Hey buddy, you know you’re
 never ever coming back.
He’s a ghost, he’s a god,
 he’s a man, he’s a guru--
They’re whispering his name
 across this disappearing land,
But hidden in his coat
 is a red right hand.

This time, Elmo joins in with the last line -- that is, Trick operates the mouth of the puppet so it flaps in perfect time with the music.

Jack lets out a few shrill trilling whistles for Trick as he's announced, and then he goes to get his drink. "Saaaint, you came back down to the ground is good to see you." Garrett gets a single pat to the shoulder, "Loving the suit. Either of you taking a turn tonight? I know Lennox will sing at some point if he's onstage or not." He slides a grin to him, "True or untrue?" To whomever is tending bar right now he says "The green glowing one please. Hex free this time."

"That is the danger of glitter. There was some wine over the summer that did just that, I'm still finding glitter in that outfit all these months later." Though hearing it's biodegradable Garrett smirks. "Good to hear, that's the last thing this word needs is more glitter in places glitter should not be." It's not that he doesn't like glitter, there are just places he doesn't want it.

He in turn pats Jack on the shoulder and smirks. "Me? Only if I'm threatened with bodily harm. I may look good on the stage but singing isn't my best skill."

Now that the cat's out of the bag, and Elmo out of his pocket, Trick dances in the style of Nick Cave -- a little shimmy of the hips, and twitchy hand gestures, though he stays close to the microphone.

You ain’t got no money?
He’ll get you some.
You ain’t got no car?
He’ll get you one.
You ain’t got no self-respect,
 you feel like an insect?
Well don’t you worry buddy,
 'cause here he comes.
Through the ghetto and the barrio
 and the Bowery and the slum.
A shadow is cast wherever he stands,
Stacks of green paper in his 
red right hand.

You’ll see him in your nightmares,
 you’ll see him in your dreams,
He’ll appear out of nowhere but 
he ain’t what he seems.
You’ll see him in your head, 
on the TV screen,
And hey buddy, I’m warning
you to turn it off
He’s a ghost, he’s a god, 
he’s a man, he’s a guru.
You’re one microscopic cog 
in his catastrophic plan,
Designed and directed by his red right hand

At the final notes of the song end, Trick has Elmo make a little bow, then turns his wrist as if they're communicating via telepathy. Trick nods, and the puppet goes back into the pocket, and Trick bows for the audience, then reaches for the microphone again, to say in that crooning deep voice, "Elmo loves you very much."

Lennox tries to stifle a laugh as Elmo the puppet comes out to join in the singing of the song, coughing a little to clear his throat. The continued stoic demeanor through the whole thing definitely gets him, but he tries not to snicker outright. At least the mic is off in front of him.

When Jack says that he will sing, Lennox shakes his head and says, "I didn't prep a song for tonight." Plus, he performs here regularly, himself. "But if we run out of performers maybe I'll wing something." He glances over at Saint, raising brows, as though questioning whether she might, too.

When the song comes to an end he laughs and applauds, "Let's give a hand to Trick and our guest star, Elmo!"

Saint dances for the entirety of Trick's performance, quietly singing the song she's clearly very familiar with. She orders another drink, but busies herself. She's just getting into the song, snapping her fingers and halfway into a butt shaking dance when Elmo pops up mid performance. Her snort laugh clearly catches her by surprise, and she claps her hand over her mouth, then proceeds to laugh for the next entire verse. Elmo's not even singing yet, and at 'tell you that you're a good boy' makes her lose it again.

She cackles when Elmo does chime in, leaning against Jack. At some point at the big finish, she sings a bit there, but mostly she busies herself clapping and wiping tears away. Her hands in the air, she points at Trick with both hands, fingers bouncing. "Love you too Elmo!" She sighs and drapes against Jack's shoulder for a minute, catching her breath before she says, "Nah, not tonight. I took a double and my calves are still burning from my last performance." Which means it depends on how many drinks she has before someone drags her onto the stage with them, though she didn't prepare her usual performance for the evening.

Jack chuckles and says "So maybe? I can handle a maybe." When Saint leans he gives her a small pat on the back and invites, "So we get you a barstool and don't make you hop around until tomorrow? This is all entirely workable." Looking to Garrett and Lennox he winces, "Awww remind me next year to suggest palanquin of skulls. Get someone to do up an Elvira style gig. It would be so fresh." As he's being leaned on he doesn't sway-dance too much with the music, but the tall lanky tower of a crypt keeper is moved by the Trick Cover. "Bravo, man, bravo!"

Trick laughs and nods his thanks before heading back to his seat and flopping in it theatrically, one leg over the armrest. "You can't out Nick Cave, so you gotta make it weird," he says, wincing and pulling the puppet out of his pocket and tossing it on the table. It stares up at the ceiling with wide eyes.

Garrett joins in the applause for Trick and his very good cover. "Yes indeed, fantastic job." He smirks to Jack when he mentions the maybe and nods his head when the skulls are mentioned. "That would be a fantastic add to the decor. Though I don't know where I'd find a dress that low cut." He says thoughtfully as he finishes his drink and signals for another.

A group of singers get up to do a rendition of the Monster Mash as a group, all of them a little bit tipsy and in different monster costumes. There are at least two Frankenstein's Monsters among them though. They lurch about the stage and have a good old time as they tunelessly monster mash their way through the dance.

Lennox chuckles and says, "I... sure.." he says, having no idea what Jack is talking about but he has learned not to question his fellow bird when he's being enthusiastic.

Though when the group finishes, he moves to take up the mic and says, "Alright.. since we've got a gap in the performers this evening.. I'm going to wing something."

Saint looks atom Trick to the puppet on the table, the puppet on the table to the bar. She grabs her drink and a napkin, reaching over to drape poor, handless Elmo with a little napkin shroud. A second blackberry-something-or-other in hand, she sips this one like a civilized person.

"We have a whole costuming department who loves custom fitting," Saint says to Garret. "If you stop in, look for the platinum blond and tell him Saint sent you." She's referring, of course, to her baby brother Dante. "He can also find you some killer heels." She finally plunks herself down on a barstool to soothe her aching muscles. She nods to Lennox and says, "It's always great when you do. No pressure." She grins.

The little paper funeral shroud makes Trick snort, just after taking a sip of his drink, and he has to cover his face for a few moments to avoid giving himself some bacterial pneumonia.

Finally he sits back up to give Lennox his attention, and to try not to look at the corpse of Elmo.

"Always a treat," he agrees, regarding Lennox's performances. "This is why I bring props. I can't compete with you pros."

Garrett waves toward the stage. "I have a feeling you'll be just fine up there." He says to Lennox as he head sup to fill in the gaps. Hearing about the costume department he nods with a grin. "I've been tempted to head down there, but I can't decide what to be. I know I only have a few days but I am sure I can throw something together." His elf ears were having him lean in one direction but he thought he should maybe be more creative. He nods to Trick. "I've only seen him at his other job so I'm sure this will be equally as entertaining."

When the music starts, it's an up-beat and quick-tempoed sort of thing, and Lennox leans into the mic, bobbing along to the beat. It's clear it's not one of his more practiced songs, either that he performs or that he does karaoke to, because it's not as polished as it would be for something he does professionally, but he seems to be having a good time with it as he kicks off a little Fear and Delight.

Oh but I know you'll cause me grief,
close friends of mine are in disbelief,
as they can see what's underneath
fluttering lashes, red lips and pearly white teeth.

I don't show it but I quiver whenever you come near,
and I cannot decipher between the thrill and the fear
I want to stop but I like too much to let it stop here:
it's wrong but i want you tonight.

It was not my own volition but I fell in deep
by running the distance I'd been advised to keep
I trot to the wolf as a doting sheep;
it's wrong but i want you tonight.

Fear and delight
all the way through the night,
With a little daring do,
I'll fall in love with you.

He does a little shuffle of a dance on the stage along with it, stepping in one direction and then backing up and shuffling in the other direction, one hand snapping his fingers as he goes.

The catchy tune that begins to play for Lennox finds Trick nodding in time. When there's a break in the singing and Lennox bops around snapping his fingers, Trick brings his hand up to his mouth to whistle for the singer. "I don't know this song, but it's a bop," he says, lifting his glass for a sip.

Jack says "Lennox has this effect on songs. I should write him something sometime and see what he does with it." His glowing green drink arrives and he rejoins himself as one bird on one shoulder. "I like coming to these. You get to see what people are into and what thy do with it." He dances with the song and asks, "okay Halloween plans, what's people thinking to do this year?"

Saint bounces slightly to the music, but the dance moves are sedate tonight. She watches Lennox perform, smile still on her lips, though the occasional glance is cast to be sure Elmo still has his staring eyes covered.

"I like them too. Sometimes it surprises me what songs people take, and what they do with them. S'a good way to see behind the veil." She tips back against the bar, slouching with her drink, but has to sit up again when one of the tiny straps of her costume cuts in and threatens to pop right off. She was warned when she walked out wearing this that the beaded chains are delicate, Saint, don't abuse the hand beading. Or else unspoken ofc.

"I'm gonna make out with a vampire." She sips her drink. "As soon as I find one."

As the song continues on, Lennox confides in the audience, leaning in toward one group near the front of the stage as he sings one verse, and then toward another on the other as he sings the next, as though letting them in on this secret dangerous love affair.

*I'm the little boy who's gonna be getting fingers burnt,
but I can see this lesson's gotta gotta gotta be learnt,
they say that boys have been destroyed but they weren't;
it's wrong but I want you tonight. *

In any case my friends it's too late,
like a moth to light like a beast to bait
and I know the black widow eats its mate;
it's wrong but I want you tonight.

Fear and delight
all the way through the night,
With a little daring do,
I'll fall in love with you.

Why is that I'm keen to be devoured by you,
when there's the option of a love affair that's pure and true,
I always choose the dungeon over the sea view;
it's wrong but I want you tonight.

When I'm out the other side I say never again,
but when I'm out and about I want to find the next vixen
someone who'll be sure to drive me round the bend;
it's wrong but I want you tonight.

With one more repeat of the chorus, Lennox does a little spin and drops into a bow at the end, tipping his top hat to the audience with a little sly smile before he straightens and slips off the stage to re-take his spot on the side, looking through the signups to call up the next on stage. "Next we have.. Jonah who is going to do Possum Kingdom!"