Halloween is a reoccurring holiday.
October 21
Various NPCs have hints about Halloween:
You manage to distract him from his talk of "ten credits" and change the topic to Halloween. He seems… conflicted.
"Halloween is the best, but Midgard's co-opting it for their big product launch. Can't we keep the consumerism to Christmas? Or at least not have it be about selling weapon systems?"
His face droops a bit more.
He nods with a harsh scowl, "yeah, Midgard's launching a new drone, so it's gonna be spider themed. They need to be careful selling out so hard. They're gonna sprain something."
He gives a bit of a scowl. "My buddies pitched a couple themes this year: 'Steampunk Exterminators', 'Matsuo: Web of the Spider Queen', or 'Invasion of the Spider People.' Sounds like they only wanted spiders in their event that were corporate-friendly."
"They're supposed to be our friends now? Have these people ever seen a spider? They're… eugh." He shudders, before collecting himself and glaring off into the distance with a slight blush.
"Well, I have to work on my dissertation. It's taking long enough without me taking breaks."
"But, even if I didn't, I'd stay away from wherever they're holding Halloween. Some of the new students don't seem to realize, but… well, I won't say it's cursed, but only so many awful things can happen on Halloween before everyone notices the pattern."
She pauses for a moment before whispering "it seems like even Midgard figured it out, right? Hopefully it's okay this year."
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, it's getting to be time for the big event." He shrugs and kicks back his over/under.
"It'll probably be at Silver Towers again, but I heard Midgard's gonna be distracted with all the festivities around the SD6 launch… that's their next gen spider drone. Launching on Halloween, which is kind of a cute marketing thing." He says the word "cute" like it's something he found on the bottom of his shoe.
"Anyway the executive suite shouldn't be paying too much attention."
- Arthur J (with Chess):
"Midgard's execs are all distracted with the SD6 launch. D… security's trying to get some folks in place for the party, but Special Projects is trying to block it."
He pauses a bit and looks at his over/under with a complicated expression. "A lot of Special Projects… I don't even know all their names. When the cat's away, the mice will play, I guess."
He tilts the drink into his mouth, putting it out of its misery.
- Jess:
Her smile falters for a moment, then drops completely. "I tried to remove my name from the Event Coordinator listing, because I'm never going to graduate at this rate, but nobody else stepped up and Midgard… well, anyway."
"Midgard's having a posh launch party that day for their new spider drone. No way any of us are getting into, but we were thinking of doing a big spider-themed bash."
Her smile returns a bit. "I think we might be able to get a bunch of extra space too, because none of the people that use Silver Towers stuff want to compete with their bosses' big event."
"I was actually pushing for it to move back here, but it's out of my hands."
"But I'm still glad I don't have to clean up afterwards again." She shakes her head. "Streamers everywhere."
You ask one of the guards about Halloween. He nods grimly. "It's not here this year, thank God. That means they can all turn right around and go back to pick up some Lattes! or whatever kids do now."
- Celler Door Bar Drone:
There's a faint electronic crackle as it begins to speak. "Ahhhh, Halloween, the one night a year we can reveal our true forms."
"Well, I'd like to say that. But it's more like the one night a year all the poseurs come out. The rich, not you-and-I rich, but Silver Towers rich, they'll swap out their cyberlimbs for something a little more festive."
A sound plays, reminiscent of a heavy exhalation of breath. "It could be beautiful, but it's just always so commercialized."
- Cellar Door spider lady:
"Hmmm, really? I'm a bit old for college parties, but the theme is on point."
She smiles faintly, a wistful look in her primary eyes. After a moment, her expression falters.
"I didn't tell you this but… you might want to stay home too. Those parties seem like a magnet for trouble and drone attacks have been on the rise lately, seems like they can't handle people acting erratically."
"Maybe it's a good night to stay in with some spider movies or just hang out here. Hell, it's basically Halloween here every day anyway." Her smile returns, seeming a bit forced.
October 27th
Setup begins in the Banquet Room (2019)
October 31st
The party begins in The Spider's Nest.