3882/Back to the 'Para'normal

Back to the 'Para'normal
Date of Scene:	21 October 2020
Location:	809 - Karita's Apartment
Synopsis:	Marly, Andy and Karita discuss what they plan to do on Halloween.
Cast of Characters:	Karita Landry, Marly Kohler, Andy Katsaros

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Karita Landry has posed:
College life. It's never an easy thing, at all. You barely finish a year, get a little time off, and then another year begins. Thus is the life for Karita, at least for one more year. At her senior year, Karita's finally getting back into the swing of things - classes are in full tilt as are getting back to the social part of life.

During the summer, Karita spent the entire time with her grandmother, Holly, up in the Canadian Rockies. There they spent the time in a cabin searching out Bigfoot with other Bigfoot researchers. It was a very thrilling time and Karita's eager to share her experiences with her good friend, Marly.

"So." Karita states, flopped down on one of the sofa's, a bag of chips in her lap, and a large blanket wrapped item next to her, while a non-stop chattering is currently going on. "Then." She continues from where she left off. "There was a howl. I mean it was the most hideous sounding thing =ever=." The word is emphasized as Karita's eyes widen. "And that night was when we found the foot print!" With that, Karita sweeps off the blanket and displays a cast of a very large foot print, complete with toes!

Marly Kohler has posed:
While Marly isn't necessarily ruled by the whims of college life many of her friends are.

So, in some sense, she totally understands the whole ebb and flow of school. It's really quite similar to working life. You have busy moments, not-so-busy moments and then the WEEKEND. Don't we all live for the weekend? Even with jobs we love.

Either way, Marly listens with rapt attention to her friend's story. Seriously, ever since she joined the Paranormal Club her life has become much more interesting. Instead of chips for Marly, she sips on a giant mug of hot apple cider, and her mug pauses midway to her mouth as Kari pulls back the blanket to reveal the large foot-with-toes-print. "Holy crap." Automatically Marly reaches out her hand to place near the cast to see the size difference between the two, "Were you scared?"

Because Marly isn't going to lie. Sometimes when they're out searching for ghosts she's for sure scared.

Karita Landry has posed:
Handing the cast over with glee, Karita dusts her hands off then grabs a handful of chips. While Marly investigates Karita's prize for the summer - Karita munches down, crunching and enjoying the tasty snacks. "Oh, my God. I was petrified!" Both hands fling outwards as Karita talks, the bag of chips rustling in her lap, forcing Karita to grab hold of it before it tumbles onto the floor.

Setting the bag down onto the coffee table and away from her with a very deliberate shove, Karita sets onto the edge of the sofa, leaning forward to further her tale of adventure in the forest. "Gramma Holly was so skeptical, I mean, even knowing what I can do, and that there are ghosts, so why wouldn't there be alien squatchs.. that night we totally barred the doors with dressers and slept in the living room!"

Running a hand through her hair, Karita shakes her head. "Other than a few other strange howls and knocks, we didn't have any sightings, not even one heat signature, and no other casts, but we're totally going back next summer! I'm hooked. It was like the /best/ summer, ever."

Marly Kohler has posed:
Oh yeah, Marly is totally following along with the story as she carefully turns the cast of the footprint over in her hands.

It's only at the mention of ALIEN SQUATCHS that the woman pauses. "Excuse me, what?"

Oh yes, there's a total shocked tone to her voice now.

"What do you mean ALIEN squatches. I thought they were the missing link? Not the missing UFO links." And here Marly felt like she was really getting the hang of all the ins and outs of the paranormal group, but who *knew* they were aliens!!

"And I would have totally barred the doors and slept in the living room too. Easier to jump out the window if need be." She's only half joking there, only half! Idly she moves and accidentally nudges the messenger style bag at her feet which causes it to rustle and crinkle. It's the crinkle of paper that causes Marly to put the cast of the alien bigfoot's foot down. "Speaking of craziness, did you have anything planned for Halloween? If not I think I found the perfect thing to do."

Andy Katsaros has posed:
As the intense discussion of 'squatching' is going on, a third party enters from the kitchen, casually drinking directly from a two-liter bottle of ginger ale. He's got the green vessel held in a single hand, long and knobby fingers wrapped around it at the middle, and it looks as if the amber liquid within is already about half gone. "Wait, they're alien now?" he chimes in as he lowers the bottle of ginger ale, a good-natured grin spreading across his features. "I thought you said they lived in volcanic tunnels."

Moving into the main room proper, Andy Katsaros keeps his casual yet slightly amused demeanor, flopping down in one of the bean bags opposite the couch. "Or... wait, no it was that they were from another dimension...?" He continues to grin as he speaks, clearly not meaning any harm with the ribbing but having fun with it nonetheless. "I'm with Marly. Old school ape-men, all the way."

Taking another swig from his ginger ale, Andy then pauses as he considers the question of Halloween. "Last year I made the most awesome 'Blob' sculpture for the Cinema Club's haunted house. They thought I used rubber cement and corn starch... This year. I dunno, haven't really thought about it too much. What's the big plan?" He looks back and forth between the other two, one eyebrow lifting up curiously.

Karita Landry has posed:
"Well..." Karita begins, hands folding into her lap as her gaze moves from Marly to Andy and back again. "Y'see I have this NEW theory about squatchs." And boy should Marly and Andy not opened THAT bag of mystery because Karita takes a big, deep breath, "So I think Bigfoot is not actually a missing link, neanderthal, left over early man like most believe. Though they do still use underground tunnels to move about, that's where they keep their spaceships. What /I/ think is that they're aliens that have come down to earth and that's why they're so difficult to catch on film and you never see a body! It's also why there are totally strange alien lights seen around Bigfoot sightings! They're aliens! They come down, tromp about in the woods gathering resources and then leave again."

And maybe, just maybe, it's a good thing that Marly offers a suggestion for Halloween, because Karita totally would have continued her wild theory about alien hoarding Bigfoots - but is now caught on the idea of something planned for Halloween!

"No! I haven't thought too much about it, with classes being so crazy this year, I'm totally open for something!" Karita turns her full attention onto Marly, eager to hear what she might have planned.

Marly Kohler has posed:
You know, Marly totally listens to all of what Kari has to say. She really does, but there's still a slightly skeptical look to her expression at the idea that Bigfoots ... Bigfeet?? ... are aliens.

Her expression is probably similar to the one that Andy currently wears!

Still, if there's one thing about Marly, she really does listen and consider all of what Kari says.

And before Marly can say much about Kari's theory the conversation is gently moved towards something of firmer ground. Halloween.

Andy's mention of his Blob sculpture brings a flash of a grin from Marly and also a definite let's-not-think-too-hard on the whole cornstarch and glue not being used topic. "I did have an idea!" Marly rustles through her messenger bag for a few seconds, "Where is it? Oh! Here it is!" And with a florish Marly pulls out a badly crinkle flyer and offers it to Kari first, "I thought this would be perfect for us to potentially investigate."

The flyer itself looks pretty standard only instead of some advertisement it reads: COME WALK THE HALLOWED CORRIDORS OF THE CREEPY CORN MAZE. THE ONLY HAUNTED CORN FIELD THAT YOU CAN RENT FOR OVERNIGHT VISITS.

In fine print it likewise reads: A deposit of twenty-five percent is required at time of booking. All deposits non-refundable if event is not cancelled 48 hours before date.

Andy Katsaros has posed:
Briefly, anyone who is looking over at him can see Andy clearly mouthing the word 'spaceships?' with no small amount of incredulity and amusement. It's clear that no matter how long he has known or will continue to know Karita, she seems to have the singluar ability of continuing to surprise him. He neither eggs her on nor counters her, however, instead apparently only too happy to have the conversation take its turn towards the impending holiday and what plans may be set for it.

Idly taking another hefty swig from his two-liter bottle, Andy glances down at the now almost empty thing, a brief twist of his lips passing over his face as if to suggest a momentary confusion as to where all of the ginger ale went. One might notice there's already two other empty bottles laying on the floor next to his bean bag. Another draught and the one he's currently working on joins them, before Andy turns his attention fully to Marly and the slightly crumpled flyer that she brandishes for the others to see.

Though the piece of paper is handed to Kari first, Andy's able to make out the larger print from where he's sitting, his neck craning just slightly to get a better look. "The Creepy Corn Maze..." he says aloud, in a slightly ponderous tone. "Haven't ever heard of it. What do we know?" He pauses just a beat then, before adding on, "And do they let you bring tents and sleeping bags and stuff? Or, I guess they really don't plan on people actually sleeping the night..."

Karita Landry has posed:
Collecting the flyer, Karita's eyes widen as she reads over it, letting out a soft 'ooo' sound, mouth forming the distinct 'o' as she does so. "Oh. YES." With a great deal of emphasis, Karita's head even bobs up and down, "We must do this." She states eagerly, handing the piece of paper over so Andy can see it. "I love corn mazes in the fall, they're so mysterious and spooky, such a perfect setting for Halloween."

Clasping her hands together with eager anticipation, Karita quirks one leg up under her now on the sofa, the other left dangling down while her hands plant on her knees. "I think it should just be the three of us, most of the others in the group have graduated now." She continues, head tilting to one side, "Or are at other universities continuing their post graduate courses. So the Paranormal Team is down to only a few extras beyond us."

Lifting her hand upwards, Karita gestures towards Marly and Andy, "So we should totally do this, did you want to call them up, Marly, find out how much, we'll all pitch in a third, and do see if we can pitch a tent, make a camp, or if it's just for a few hours. I'm totally excited."

Marly Kohler has posed:
"I have no idea if we have to bring our own tents and sleeping bags or if they provide them." Marly is quick to say to Andy, even as she adds, "And you're not thinking they'd purposely make it seem 'scarier' to make sure people don't stay the night, are you?" Though now that Marly voiced that thought out-loud her expression does turn thoughtful.

She wouldn't put it past a business to do that - after all, they have overhead costs when people spend the night. At the very least some sort of security costs?

Her train of thought is jostled off the tracks as Kari voices her own questions, "I'll definitely give them a call and ask them about the overnight accomidations. I think it'll probably be safe to assume it's BYOG." Bring your own gear. "Which I think we're all used to doing. Once I have a price for the three of us I'll give you both a text. I'm super excited too. I know our team isn't as large as it once was, but I still think we're the best ghost hunting team out there. And hopefully we'll get to record some actual evidence too. The corn maze itself is on an old farm and you know how those old farms - super spooky. There has to be residual energies there doing *something*."

Andy Katsaros has posed:
And just like that, the expedition has been decided. The proclomation almost seems to take Andy off-guard, but then - he's been a hanger-on, if not an outright member, of this group for long enough to know how it operates. So really, the speed and enthusiasm at taking up this particular investigative opportunity doesn't really surprise him. In fact, as he takes the flyer from Kari when she offers it to him, the dark-haired young man is smiling broadly. "If we're staying all night, we're definitely pitching a tent." His gaze flicks down to the flyer, scanning over the 'fine print', which seems standard enough. "Though, I guess a campfire might be a little questionable, what with it being in the middle of a cornfield in October... So much for s'mores," he laments, only half serious.

"Right. So, if it's just the three of us, I'm probably on electronics duty then?" he asks, knowing that in previous instances where one of the 'regular' members of the group who normally deals with cameras and sound has been gone, Andy's been tasked with picking up the slack if he's been there instead. He sounds neither unhappy nor excited about it - just acknowledging that he'll be the one to lug in and set up the majority of the tech gear. "I think we've still got most everything we're used to in the storage space, but the parabolic radio dish was Lou's and he took it with him when he graduated..."

Andy reaches down to grab at the empty bottle of ginger ale next to him before he remembers that it doesn't have any more ginger ale in it, and instead converts the motion to pluck up the empty bottle by the neck and idly tap the bottom of the hollow plastic against his knee. "An old farm? Ten to one says it's built overtop some old Native American sacred site. Though..." he reconsiders, "You'd think they'd put that on the flyer if that was the case..."

Karita Landry has posed:
"Oh, yeah!" Karita agrees, hands gesturing outwards as she 'talks' with her hands as well as her voice. "I totally agree, especially in these older New England states and farms. It isn't just the recent past that leaves behind the energy, but there are ancient things that has transpired, wars, and famines, plagues and death, events that shaped the land as much as the people. All of that leaves behind traces, left over imprints, energy that can boil to the top and if allowed to grow or is egged on - you just never know what can pop out."

Now rubbing her hands together in eager anticipation, Karita turns her attention onto Andy, "Well, if you don't mind." She offers with a grin, "You do it so well." She coaxes just a tiny bit, before she's once again turning her attention between Marly and Andy. "This is fantastic, thank you for the suggestion Marly, this is going to be a -lot- of fun."

Flitting to a stand, Karita collects up her bag of chips, folding the bag neatly down as she does so, only to turn and grab up the other two empty bottles of soda, moving towards the kitchen. "I

Karita Landry has posed:
"I'm excited!" She finishes with, depositing things into the kitchen before swiftly returning. "So, what movie tonight shall we watch? The Conjuring?"

Marly Kohler has posed:
At Andy's offer of tanking the electronics Marly likewise can't help but offer her thanks. "Like Kari said we totally appreciate it and if anything breaks I can definitely help repair."

That's the good thing about having The Maker around, for sure.

As to what the flyer does and doesn't say, Marly can't help but look thoughtful, "Why don't I run to the library before we head out and see if I can locate anything about the farm's past? If we can find some names or family names we might be able to get a response from the spirit world." Which totally leads into what Kari says.

Marly nods with her own excitement now, "Agreed. There has to be *something* there. Hopefully we'll get some really great EVPs too." As to the mention of what movie to watch? The Conjuring brings a laugh from Marly, "Sure, I'm down. As long as neither of you mind me just holding a pillow in front of my face for eighty-percent of the movie."

Really, it is a wonder how Marly actually survives in a paranormal group when scary movies really freak her out at times.

Andy Katsaros has posed:
A laugh sounds out from Andy as well at the suggestion of 'The Conjuring', a happy one. "You'd think you wouldn't need a pillow like that, given that we've watched it like, three times every year since we've been here," he ribs both Marly and Karita at the same time, grinning. But he clearly doesn't mind the movie suggestion - it's a great Halloween flick, after all. "I'm in though. Only on the condition that we watch Annabelle this year. I am totally jonesing for some freaky evil doll horror..." With that, the lanky young man pulls himself up from the bean bag, "I'm on popcorn duty if you guys want to boot up the TV. First one to scream has to go out for snack refills when we run out..." Grinning again, he heads on into the kitchen, looking forward to a fun night in filled with friends, food... and fantastical fiends on film.