Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The invitation wasn’t printed on paper, but instead on something black, heavy, and cold.  The writing on it was done in iridescent ink, the letters swirling into each other in graceful arcs and loops, hundreds of hidden meanings in the slant of this dot, or the slope of that line, or the exact tint of iridescence.  It was writing made for codes and people who hid themselves and was virtually indecipherable to anyone but the intended recipient. 

That didn’t stop Maddie and Jack from trying as soon as Danny had tried to explain it to them. 

“What did you say this was again?” asked Maddie.  “An invitation from one of your ghost friends?”  She adjusted the sight on her microscope again and slid a new light filter in.

“No, it’s an invitation to the Midnight Masquerade.”  Danny scratched the back of his neck.  “I was actually kind of hoping I wouldn’t be invited this year.”

“Huh?  Why’s that, Danny boy?” asked Jack, looking up, wrench in hand.  “Is it no fun?”

“No, no, the Masquerade itself is actually pretty cool.  It’s the reason you get invited that kind of makes me…”  He shrugged.  “Unenthusiastic.”

“And what’s that?” asked Maddie.

“You only get an invite if you’re hiding a big portion of yourself.”

“You-?  Oh,” said Maddie.  “So, because you told us about yourself…”

“Yeah, I was hoping.  But I am still hiding it from almost everyone else in the world, so, you know.”  He shrugged.  “Not a huge shock.”

“So, are you going to go?”

“Yeah, I have to.”

“Have to?” asked Maddie, frowning. 

“If you get an invite, you’re sort of… drawn in.  It’s fine, I’m not upset about it.  Like I said, the thing itself is pretty cool.  Everyone gets masks and cool outfits.  Also, everything inside is completely anonymous.”

“Oh, is it like the Winter Truce?”

“Not exactly.  No one fights there, but, like… You literally can’t recognize anyone unless they tell you who they are outright, no matter how much they look like themselves.  Ghost magic.”

“There’s no such thing as magic,” said Maddie, as Jack gasped like Danny had said a dirty word. 

“Just things that haven’t properly been explained by science yet!” said Jack.

“Come up with a shorter term for it, and maybe I’ll say that,” said Danny. 

Maddie sighed.  “Will you take the equipment?”

“I can try,” said Danny. “But most stuff like that doesn’t actually work.  I mean.  It is supposed to be sort of a haven.  A night you don’t have to hide yourself, because you’re hidden.”

“But you’re forced to go,” said Maddie, always eager to jump on apparent inconsistencies in ghost culture. 

“There’s a lot of stuff like that,” said Danny, shrugging.  “It doesn’t really feel like being forced, it’s just…”  He trailed off.  Sometimes it was hard to explain the push and pull, the tides of ghostly instincts.  His parents tried, but they just didn’t get it.  Not really.

“Do you want us to go with you?”

“I mean, you could come, but it probably wouldn’t do much good.  Like I said, you can’t recognize anyone there.  Even if you go in together.  And going in is a bit of a thing in and of itself…  There’s like…”  He waved his hands.  “A maze?  At least, that’s what it was before.  It might change.  Anyway, you have to go in one at a time, and, well.  Yeah.  I can try and take a camera, but I’m not sure how the recording would work.”

Maddie sighed.  “Do you really have to go?”

“Do you want to go?” asked Jack. 

“Yes,” said Danny.  “Still photos might work better.  That’s a thing Sam noticed.”

“We know, sweetie.  Are you sure?  We can set something up to stop you if you’re being forced to go against your will.”

“I am sure I want to go.  You can call Jazz if you like.  I told her about last year’s.”

Maddie sighed. 

“When is it?” asked Jack. 

“Next week, midnight,” said Danny. 

“And you’re sure you don’t want us to go with you?”

“I’m sure, but if you want to go, I don’t think there’s a rule against it.  Uninvited ghosts do drop in.  Humans…”  He shrugged.  “Ghosts usually don’t care if humans show up, as long as th- As long as we follow the rules.”

His parents exchanged glances. 

“We’ll think about it,” said Maddie.  “We have a whole week to talk about this, after all, don’t we?”

.

Danny flew to the Midnight Masquerade alone, but with a camera that, theoretically, would send footage back home.  He seriously doubted it would work but didn’t feel like taking the time to dissuade his parents.

 Following the invitation, he found the relatively inconspicuous door to the Masquerade.  It floated among a dozen others that looked exactly like it, purple and unassuming.  Danny opened the door to reveal what appeared to be a path between totally normal hedges.  Through an overhead rose trellis that gave the path a tunnel-like feeling, Danny glimpsed what many people would take to be stars. 

This was a pocket dimension.  The stars were illusory. 

Danny inhaled deeply, night air washing over his tongue, carrying with it the scent of grass and wine. 

Not that he’d be allowed to drink the wine unless he got really sneaky.  Ghosts still treated him like he was fourteen. 

Which.  He did look fourteen.  Stupid portal stunting his stupid growth. 

He walked through the maze, picking paths at random for now.  At one point he caught a glimpse of a woman in a neon blue evening dress—But just a glimpse.  He could hear laughter and music in the middle distance, but it was far enough away for him to feel alone. 

His clothing was adjusting itself to something more appropriate for a formal party.  The hazmat fabric softened and recut itself.  He acquired a tie out of nowhere.  His boots turned into shoes and blackened, leaving only a thin silver pinstripe between the soles and uppers.  A mask condensed out of the moisture in the air, settling gently on his face.  Only the top half of it this time, thank goodness. 

He wouldn’t be able to take it off until he left. 

He’d have to look in a mirror before he left.  He wanted to see what he looked like in all this. 

A clock tolled midnight just as he stepped out of the maze.  The party was only just beginning. 

Chapter Text

The venue put Danny in mind of Vlad’s first mansion.  He had to crane his head back to see the tops of the towers, even though he stood on the outer edge of a huge garden.  But as he examined it more closely, that impression faded.  Taken together with the gardens, the structure had a more fairy-tale feel to it.  Pinprick lights, cheerful music, and almost intoxicating perfume filled the air.  Pale, night-blooming flowers glowed like moons.  Warm light and friendly chatter spilled from wide open doors and windows.  Shadowy figures moved silently along the garden paths.

No, this was its own space, unlike anywhere else.  

Danny took a deep breath and moved forward.  He couldn’t help but fidget with his mask.  It didn’t cover his whole face, like last year, which was a fact for which he was grateful.  The snacks had looked really good last year, and he hadn’t been able to eat any of them.  He also hadn’t been able to talk very well, but that was fine.  He hadn’t really wanted to talk or participate or anything.  

This mask arched smoothly over most of his forehead and swooped down over his cheekbones.  It reached back almost to his ears, where it was tied by ribbons.  He pulled the end of one forward, to look at it better.  It was black and silky, with silver stitching.  He let it go, and it brushed gently against his ear.  

He stepped across the threshold into a vaulted ballroom.  It was lit in hazy, dreamlike golds, and the floor was tiled in ivory and cream-colored stone.  The sides of the room were lined in tables of refreshments, and beyond those, open doors leading into smaller, more private spaces.  A split, two-sided staircase that curved to the left and right as it descended from a higher level took up the front of the room, and in front of that was a stage full of masked musicians.  Some of them had their instruments built into their masks, and Danny shuddered at how uncomfortable that must be.  Still, they didn’t seem to be unhappy.  

The room was, of course, full of ghosts in various forms of evening wear.  Some outfits were modern, like Danny’s seemed to be.  Others were selected from centuries ago.  Others still, Danny couldn’t place in time.  They could have been from the future, for all he knew.  But they were all united in a feeling of elegance.  

He followed a small group of ghosts to where they were congregating in front of a bank of mirrors.  He wasn’t the only one who wanted to know what he looked like tonight.  

But when it was his turn to step in front of a mirror, it didn’t reflect him.  He tilted his head, confused, and checked to make sure he wasn’t invisible.  He wasn’t.  “Why…?” he asked, softly.  

“It’s because you’re wearing a mirror mask,” said the ghost next to him, a ghost with a crescent-shaped mask with points that descended past the corners of her jaw.  It mirrored her hair.  She was examining the bustle on her dress, which was black with green fire embroidery.  

“A what?”

“A mirror mask.  Your mask is silver, like a mirror.  It has some decorative scrollwork.  Ice themed, by the look of it.”  She regarded Danny, looking him up and down.  “Ice core?  Or is your heart just that cold?”

“Um,” said Danny, not eager to give away identifying information, even if the magic here would keep anyone from ever connecting it to him.  

He was saved from deeper involvement in a social situation he wasn’t prepared for by the distinctive, staticky bumpf bumpf of a tapped microphone.  He and the other ghosts turned to the stage.  

Near the edge, in front of the musicians, floated a ghost whose body was completely obscured by a Venitian-style costume and delicately painted porcelain full face mask.  

“Hello hello,” said the ghost in a voice that couldn’t be assigned neatly to either gender.  “I bid you all welcome to the Midnight Masquerade, the yearly convocation of all those who, dead, undying, or never born at all, still find a need or desire to conceal themselves.  This is a celebration for spies, for liars, for the persecuted, for the shy, for all those who hide, in the dark or otherwise.  This is a place where, masked, we can be true.”  The ghost paused.  “You may call me the Masked Celebrant - but aren’t we all, tonight?”  There was a titter of laughter.  “For our new siblings in shadow, I would say do not be afraid, but I know you will not heed words alone.  Instead, be reassured by our actions.  As usual, our party lasts from midnight to midnight.”  They gestured at the ceiling, and Danny saw that there was a large, four-sided clock suspended from it, with all the faces stopped at midnight.  “No time at all.  That is to say, all the time there is.  As long as we need.  As long as you need.”  It sketched out an exaggerated bow.  “But now that we are all here, it is time for our icebreaker.  We may only know each other for a moment at midnight, but in that moment, we should all be good friends.”

Some ghosts shifted uncomfortably at that announcement, others, eagerly.  The last ‘icebreaker’ had been a guessing game where every other sentence had to be a lie.  Danny hadn't done well with that one, and he didn't expect to do well with this one. 

The thing about the Midnight Masquerade was that, while it was fun and Danny didn’t mind coming, the invitation wasn’t the only part that was a bit… coercive.  There were things attendees couldn’t opt out of, and they weren’t all fair.  

“This year, we’ll be starting things off with eye-opening!  Some of you here hide so well you hide even from yourself!  So, until you open your eyes, they’ll be closed.  Feeling left out?  Don’t worry, those of you who see yourselves clearly will be randomly assigned to someone who doesn’t.  The first three groups to open their eyes will get a special prize!  And… we start… now.”

Danny’s mask shifted, which wasn’t something he thought it could do while he was still at the party.  He raised a hand to hold it still, except it kept moving.  Or… no.  The mask was moving, but not because it had somehow come loose.  It was closing its eyes.  

He considered wedging in a finger, but that would probably result in that finger getting sliced off, and he didn’t want to deal with that.  His field of vision got smaller and smaller until the false lids pressed together with a click.  He brushed his fingers against them, feeling the texture of sculpted eyelashes.  

(He’d be experiencing less frozen panic if he had a better idea of what he’d have to do to undo this.)

“Of course, you can opt out… or give up… but then your new friends would have to spend the whole masquerade blindfolded!  That wouldn’t be any fun.  Or maybe it would be!  It’s up to you.  Have fun~!”

Well.  That was.  

Great. 

What did he do now?

Something brushed against the back of his neck and he jumped up into the air, startled.  He immediately decided this was a bad idea.  Without the ground under his feet, he had very little idea where he was in space at all.

“Apologies,” said a deep voice.  “I was checking to see if there was a switch.”

“A switch?” said a higher-pitched voice.  “Why would there be a switch?  He isn’t a robot.”

“You never know.  They make them better every year.”

“Can you really not tell the difference between a ghost and a robot?”

“Sometimes,” said the first voice, crossly, “there’s a switch.”

“I understand your confusion,” said a smoother voice.  The woman he’d been talking to before, maybe?  “These mirror masks…  There are a few different reasons for them, but most of the time, it’s the people with no personality.  People who just feel… distant.  Robotic.  Metallic, as it were.”

“I don’t think that’s a real thing,” said the high-pitched voice.  

“It isn’t,” said a masculine, but more neutral voice.  “While the masks are symbolic, to some degree, without knowing a great deal more about the person in question, it is impossible to tell in what way.  Do you need assistance getting down?”

“No,” said Danny, defensively.  “I just– How far away is the floor from me?”

He immediately got half a dozen different answers.  Some of them were in units he’d never even heard of.

“That’s really unhelpful,” observed Danny.  

“It’s okay, sweetie,” said one of the ghosts near him.  “Getting help doesn’t mean you’re in capable, just that you’re less capable.”

“You’re about twice as far from the floor as you are tall,” said the calm voice.  He spoke rhythmically, evenly.  

Danny supposed he didn’t have to trust any of them, but falling wouldn’t do him any damage, and he was becoming increasingly unnerved by the lack of something solid to touch.  He lowered himself carefully, and found the floor right where the calm voice had said it was.  

“Okay,” he said.  “Thanks.  So… what are we supposed to do, here?  I, um.  I didn’t really get the speech.”  Rather, he’d been distracted by being blinded without warning immediately after the speech. 

“Really?  You missed something so simple?  Were you paying attention at all?

Danny bristled.

“I believe that the goal is for you to have some realization about yourself that you have been putting off or denying,” said the calm, even voice. 

“I don’t think I have anything like that, though…”  He’d embraced being a half ghost ages ago.  He knew he’d died.  He knew he had…  Obsessions.  Or at least, had obsessive behavior.  He knew he wasn’t completely human.  What else was there for him to be in denial about?

“Perhaps,” suggested the deep, slow voice, who had thought that he was a robot, “it has something to do with why such a young child is here among us in the first place.”

“I’m not a child,” snapped Danny.  “I’m eighteen.”

“Before or after you died, dear?” said the woman from the mirrors, whom Danny was rather starting to dislike.  “If it’s after, well, I’m afraid you’ll never be eighteen, and if after…  You really have to work on maturing, don’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter how old I look, eighteen is how old I am.”  And he was going to grow, eventually.  The portal had stunted his growth.  That’s what his parents had said.  It hadn’t stopped it.  And so what if he had a baby face?  Lots of people did, all the way through college.  

Although, he probably wouldn’t get to go to college.  All things considered.  

Someone pinched his cheek and he pulled away.  “That does sound like denial!” one of the ghosts crowed.  “But it shouldn’t be too hard to get you to admit it, hm?  You’re such a cute little guy.  What’s so bad about staying a cute little guy?”

All sorts of things, actually.  But he wasn’t going to share them here.  

“I think that’s enough.  He doesn’t want to be touched.”

“But his little baby cheeks are so pinchable.”

“That is not my concern.”

“Ah, we have our first winner,” called the Masked Celebrant.  “You guys really do like finding secrets, don’t you?”

“I think that’s our concern,” said the high-pitched voice.  “We aren’t going to get a prize if this keeps up.”

“Is it too hard for you to help out by at least admitting to what we already figured out?”

“There’s nothing to admit!” protested Danny.  “It has to be something else.”  Although what else it could be was beyond him.  

“Oh, no need to get so defensive.  I’ve been there myself!  Dying, being stuck in one place, all my friends and family moving on without you… It’s painful, isn’t it?”

Danny wanted to step away, but he wasn’t sure what was behind him.

“Eighteen, you said?  That’s about the time children move away, isn’t it?  Is it too hard for you to think about your friends moving away from you physically as well as in, well, every other way?”

That wasn’t– Danny was– Sam and Tucker might’ve– But–

“If I may, I have some skill with determining ages,” said the calm voice.  “If you allow me, I can measure yours, as well as how long it’s been since your death.”

“You can do that?” asked Danny, happy for the distraction.  

“But if the number is smaller than you think it should be, please consider what the lady here has said, even if she has said it in an appalling manner.”

“Aaaaaand we have our second winner!” called the Masked Celebrant.  

“Hurry!” said the high-pitched voice.  “Do it already!”

“I will have to touch you,” said the calm voice, kindly.  

“Okay,” said Danny.  “Go ahead.”

Gloved fingers brushed against his shoulders.  Only then did Danny realize that, as a half ghost, he might not exactly read normally to whatever power this ghost was using.

“You’re fourteen,” said the ghost.  “You died… just over four years ago.”

“Oh,” said Danny, his shoulders slumping.  He could– The reading might still be wrong, but–

But it would make sense, if the portal, if his death, had done more than just stunt him.  If it had frozen him.  Stopped his life, even if it hadn’t ended it.  He hugged himself.  

“I guess… I guess so,” he said.  “Those four years, they really don’t count?”

“Not to your age, I’m afraid,” said the calm voice.  

That was–  No.  He was still here, still living, but– It should count.  In a fair world, it would count.  He’d be growing up, with everyone else.  He’d be going off to college.  He’d be exploring new things in the human world, not just the Ghost Zone.  

But that wasn’t the way it was, was it?

Danny forced himself to nod.  “Okay,” he said.  “I guess that’s… probably the reason, then.  That and… I really am…  I know my friends are going to move on.  I do know it.  I just don’t want to think about it.  Is that so bad?”

The eyes on the mask opened, and Danny saw…

One ghost.  

“Where did everyone else go?” asked Danny.  

“The third winner was announced while you were thinking.  The others left.”  It was the ghost with the calm voice, at least.  

Danny let his eyes flick over him.  He was wearing something many-layered and medieval in shades of purple and lavender, and his mask was a half-face mask like Danny’s, but his mask was crazed with hairline cracks outlined in brass.  His skin was blue, and his hair was long and white, braided over his shoulder.

“They left?” echoed Danny, offended.  

The ghost hummed.  “The one did not want to, but I had grown tired of listening to her, and insisted.”

“Me too,” admitted Danny.  

“An acquaintance and I were setting up a card game before the Masked Celebrant commenced the ceremonies, so to speak.  Would you be interested in joining us?”

Danny looked around the ballroom.  The snack tables were still there, but he somehow didn’t feel as hungry as before.  “Sure,” he said, after a moment.  “I… don’t really have anything better to do.”

“Excellent.  Tell me, have you ever played transformations?”

Chapter Text

The purple-robed ghost led Danny to the side of the ballroom that opened up into a gallery of doors. Danny hadn't had the opportunity to look carefully at those doors yet, and he did so now. Many of the doors were closed, but more of them were open. The rooms they led into were as elegant and fantastical as the ballroom itself. Some were small, intimate and cozy nooks. Others were larger, and stocked as solariums or miniature libraries. A few were arranged like dining rooms or bars, with sparkling chandeliers and barware. At least one had a pool in it.  

The one that the purple-robed ghost finally turned into opened up to a balcony and was wreathed in vines of luminous white flowers. Below, in the gardens, other guests laughed and danced. In the center of the room was a circular table. 

Four ghosts sat around the table. One was dressed in what put Danny in mind of a miniature version of Skulker's armor. It had a green domino mask painted on over the eyes. Another looked like a classic vampire complete with red eyes, sharp teeth, and antique clothing. A third had a white porcelain mask and so many black veils the rest of their body was completely obscured. The fourth and last was a young woman, about the same age as Sam and Tucker, wearing an electric blue evening gown.  

“I have brought another player,” said the purple-robed ghost. He sat down and started shuffling a deck of cards.  

After a moment of hesitation, Danny gave the other four players a quick greeting and sat down on the purple-robed ghost's left.  

“Does he even know how to play?” asked the ghost in the blue gown. “No offense, but you look twelve.”

“I'm fourteen,” said Danny, and wow, that was a lot easier than the vacillating he'd normally do. “But, um.” He looked at the purple-robed ghost.  

“I thought teaching him would be an interesting activity.”

“Have you ever tried to teach a whelp anything?” asked the armored ghost. 

“The youth are regrettably resistant to education,” said the vampire ghost. “I myself have tried many times to impart wisdom and knowledge to young ghosts, and every time…” He trailed off delicately, as if inviting the listener to fill in their own conclusion. 

“I have, in fact,” said the purple-robed ghost, mildly. “I find mentorship to be rewarding.”

“Huh. Wouldn't have thought that anyone here would be any good at that,” said the ghost in the blue dress.

“There are many types of masks,” said the purple-robed ghost. “May I suggest that we adopt temporary names before we begin? I would take ‘Purple’ for myself.’

“I'll be blue,” said the girl, quickly. 

“Hunter,” said the armored ghost.

“Veils.”

The vampire ghost sighed heavily. “If we must. Call me the Duke.”

“Um,” said Danny. “Frost.” That would be easy to remember. People like Ember and Johnny called him ‘Frosty’ with enough frequency that he was starting to answer to it. 

“Okay, Frosty,” said Blue, proving his point. “The game's somewhere between Michigan rummy and go fish. You know either of those?”

“I know go fish.”

“Course you do, kid.”

Purple cleared his throat and began to pass out cards. “To start at the beginning, each player is dealt two hands, one from the numbers deck, one from the transformations deck. The goal is to eliminate both hands. Cards from the numbers hand are removed by playing them in order. For example, the first player may play the ace of hearts, the second player may play the two of hearts, and so on.”

“And if you can play a card, you must,” said Veils in their ethereal voice. “Though if you have more than one option, you may choose between them.”

“Yeah, no cheating by ducking out,” said Blue.

“Transformations are a different matter,” said Purple. “They can only be removed from play by playing them against someone with the paired card.”

“That's the go fish part of it.”

“Indeed,” said Purple. “There are a few additional aspects to it, however. Should you successfully match a pair of transformations, the other player will be transformed. You will be able to tell them to switch any one of their hands with any other player's equivalent hand, or cause them to pick up one of the discarded number card piles.”

“Huh,” said Danny. “Actually could you repeat–”

“You'll get it faster by actually playing,” said Blue.  

“Perhaps,” said Purple, “but he does have the first turn.”

“It's fine,” said Danny, quickly. He looked at his cards. “So, I can play this?” He put an ace of spades on the table. 

Purple moved it to a more central location. “Yes, that works nicely.”

Blue, on Danny's left, tsked softly, then played the two of spades.  

Hunter tapped his transformations cards (which was interesting to watch, because each card was almost as tall as he was), then pulled out two. Each of them read ‘scent’ in large, loopy letters. “I get to discard these for free, since I drew a pair naturally.”

“Huh, okay,” said Danny as Hunter went on to play the ace of clubs. Just after that, Veils played the ace of hearts. 

“Only the ace of diamonds left,” observed the Duke. “I don't suppose any of you are saving it for later?”

“What do you care, old man?” asked Blue. “Have a lot of diamonds?”

The Duke scoffed, then set two of his transformations cards to one side - both labeled ‘imagination’ - before playing the two of clubs. 

Purple hummed and ran his fingers over the edges of his transformations. “I'm afraid that puts me in a bad position, numerically. So, I will have to play one of these.”

“Stop being dramatic and just do it already,” said Blue. “What's the point?”

“There’s something to be said for showmanship,” said Hunter.  

“You’re just saying that because he isn't going to pick you, since you've only got two transformations now.”

“So?”

“Frost,” said Purple, showing him a card, “do you have one of these?”

The card was labeled ‘sound’ and it was decorated with miniature illustrations of musical instruments. Bells, chimes, flutes, pipes, clarinets, trumpets, harmonicas, bagpipes, and things Danny could not readily identify were all represented.  

“Yeah,” said Danny, slipping the card out from his own hand. “Do I give it to you, or…?”

“Yes,” said Purple, taking the offered card and stacking it on his copy before putting both to the side. He then gazed at Danny intently, eyes glittering red behind his mask.  

Danny was about to ask him what he wanted Danny to switch, but paused. He felt something shift subtly inside himself, changing shape. It wasn't an uncommon feeling. Many places in the Zone caused such shifts, subtly or otherwise. This place had caused some, when he first arrived.  

Even so, and despite expecting it (the name of the game was not subtle), having it happen because of a game was disconcerting.  

He opened his mouth experimentally, and was rewarded with a tolling bell-sound that approximately matched the pitch of his usual voice. It reverberated deep in his chest.  

Continuing the experiment, he attempted the question he'd been about to ask, and instead produced a series of bell tones, one for each attempted syllable, in rising pitch. Pretty, but not terribly useful for communication.  

“If I may guess at your question,” said Purple. “I would like to trade your number cards for mine.”

They did so, and Danny chimed at Purple's terrible cards. He would also have to try to play a transformation card.  

Playing against Veils or Blue would be his best bet, since they still had all their transformations, but it would be nice to get some friendly ‘revenge’ against Purple.  

He pulled the ‘sensory organ’ card from his hand, mostly because he was curious as to what it would do. There were pictures of ears, eyes, noses, and tongues, but also things that Danny couldn't recognize at all.  

He rubbed the corner between his fingers a few times, then impulsively held the card out to Blue.  

“Nope,” she said, popping the ‘p.’ “Sorry, Frosty. My turn.”  

As Danny sighed (windchimes) she played the ace of diamonds and the game continued until it got back around to Danny.  

He still couldn't play any numbers.

“Gonna try me again, Snowcone? Popsicle? Kid's cone?”

Danny, who had been about to play the sensory organ card against Veils, because that was obviously the more strategic choice, glared at Blue.  

“Jingle bells?”

Oh, it was on.  

(This was a game anyway, not a fight.)

He showed Blue his ‘synesthesia’ card.  

She cackled. “Better luck next time,” she said, playing the six of clubs.  

At least he'd be able to play a number next time, he supposed. Hunter went next, grumbling something about sportsmanship.  

And then there was Veils.  

Veils's entire face was covered, but Danny could swear they were smiling under it. They pulled a card from their transformations hand with two long, elegant, gloved fingers, and showed It to Danny. “I believe you have one of these.”

It was the sensory organ card.

Well, that showed him to get baited by smack talk, he guessed.  

His skin started to itch horribly, and he pulled back one of his sleeves to see swirling rows of multi-colored freckles forming on his arm. The colors grew brighter, clearer, and the freckles themselves became sharply defined and slightly raised circles.  

Danny… wobbled.

He didn't have the right words to describe what he was feeling, currently. All ghosts could sense the qualities of ectoplasm to some degree, because they absorbed it. But if that sense was analogous to tasting, then this was analogous to smelling. Or maybe hearing. Only with his whole body.  

“I said, I would like your number hand,” said Veils.  

Dazed, Danny handed it over. He barely glanced at his new cards, instead focused on trying to make enough sense of his new, well, sense to function. He supposed this, too, was part of the game. Too many transformations too fast and you'd play badly.  

Abruptly, it was his turn again, a fact brought to his attention by Purple gently patting his elbow. He still couldn't play a number card. He was starting to feel a little picked on, even though he couldn't detect any malice from his fellow players.  

Still miffed, he showed Blue his last transformations card, which was labeled ‘weapons’ and decorated with things like claws and horns.”

“It's almost too bad,” said Blue, cheerfully. “I would have liked to give you my crappy hand.  

She showed Hunter a card that said ‘emotion’ on it, and the armored ghost grumbled before handing over his matching card, then, with an incongruous amount of cheer swapping transformations hands with her, leaving her with one transformation while he had three.  

Hunter, still peppy, in turn showed an ‘internal voice’ card to Veils, who hunched their shoulders and was clearly peeved to hand over their own copy of the card before being made to swap transformations cards. Then, their entire aura brightened and they played a ‘sense intensity’ card against Hunter and took his number cards.

The Duke took his turn normally, and so did Purple, bringing it back to Danny, who was no longer sure what cards he had. 

Luckily, though, he was able to play a number card. Finally. And if no one got him with a transformation, he had one for next time, too. And he was starting to cope with his new sense. He relaxed a little.  

Until Veils made a considering noise.  

But Veils showed his last transformations card, ‘surface,’ to Purple, who shook his head.  

The Duke immediately showed Veils his ‘surface’ card.

“Brat,” said Veils, as their gauzy veils rippled and then sprouted dozens of scale-like silver sequins.  

“Let us trade transformations hands, then,” said the Duke, making a show of taking Veils's empty hand and giving them his own single card.  

The Duke, it seemed, was closest to winning.  

“Frost, dear,” said Purple, almost apologetically. He showed Danny the ‘weapons’ card.  

Ugh.  

He handed over his copy of the card and curling horns sprouted from his temples at once. The process was simultaneously painful and weirdly satisfying, and Danny couldn't help but make a series of sounds that, under other circumstances, might have been a series of grunts, whimpers, or gasps, but was instead an arpeggio of ringing notes.  

When it was done, he lifted his much heavier head and made a questioning sound.  

“Choices, choices,” mused Purple. “I believe I will have you switch numbers hands with our young Duke.”

The Duke grumbled about the unfairness of the rule, but complied, leaving Danny with two unuseable cards.  

Purple was the only ghost with two transformations left, so Danny showed him the ‘synesthesia’ card.

“Ah, you got me,” said Purple. “I do rather enjoy the synesthesia card. What would you like me to trade?”

Danny thought for a bit, then made him change hands with Blue.  

She scowled. “You know he doesn't have any good cards.” She glared at the cards for a while, then played a ‘limbs’ transformation against Purple, which made him grow an extra pair of arms, which he folded sedately in his lap. “Trade with him,” she said, jerking her head at Danny.  

Danny now had greater sympathy for the Duke, because he wasn't happy about trading, either.  

Then, Hunter played the last transformations card against Veils (the card was ‘looks’ and didn't have any visible effect on the veiled ghost), taking their smaller numbers hand. Now, the numbers were all that was left.  

“I'm afraid I must pass,” said Purple. “No possible moves.”

Danny tolled a question.

“Depending on mode of play, several things can happen. However, in absence of other announcements, standard play is assumed, and I will be allowed to try again next round. Another common variant is for me to be considered ‘out,’ in which case I would fold my hand and not play again.”

Luckily, Danny was able to play. Blue scowled and passed. So did Hunter. Veils played, and so did the Duke and Purple, bringing it back to Danny. He played the ten of spades, and was left with the ten of diamonds.  

He eyed the diamonds discard pile. it was only up to the three.  

Blue finished off the clubs pile. Hunter passed, cheerily stating that he was stuck. Veils played the seven of hearts, and then the Duke played the nine of spades.  

Everyone then stared at Purple, who only had one card. He smiled, and laid it on the top of the hearts pile.  

“My win,” he said.  

Danny felt the transformations he had picked up over the course of the game evaporate, and he shook his head. The sudden lightness felt weird. The loss of the extra sense felt weirder. 

Everyone slid their cards across the table to Purple, who shuffled them into their respective decks.  

“Shall we play again?” Purple asked. 

The others gave various affirmative answers. Danny licked his lips, thinking. Then he shrugged.

“Sure. Why not?”