Chapter Text
This is how it began:
"So, what would you think about the latest attempt at the gene therapy going sideways?" John Sheppard wondered, as he crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the door to Todd's newly assigned living quarters.
The Wraith's eyes narrowed.
"Alright, fine, that came out wrong, we wouldn't want that - least of all me, who ended up half-bug, or you, who ended up half-dead, the last times things didn't go according to plan", John admitted with a wince. "Forget that. What would you think about others incorrectly believing the latest attempt at the gene therapy went sideways?"
"Why would they believe that?" Todd questioned, wary and suspicious of the Colonel's newest ideas.
"Right, okay, I see this isn't working for you, let me start again", John straightened. "Did you notice anything new recently? You know, like fog in the hallways and spider webbing in the door frames? The altars with photos of fallen expedition members and candles and such?"
The Wraith tilted his head, interested if not outright intrigued now.
"So, in two days we celebrate these things called Hallowe'en and Día de los Muertos, which probably shouldn't go together, because one, I think, tries to ward against evil spirits trying to enter into our world on this date, while the other, I guess, celebrates the visiting of the souls of deceased friends and family, but we make it work - and I'll be honest, I don't know too much about the background of either, so if you want to have more information you should ask Woolsey or some scientist." He shook his head and waved a hand. "Anyway, part of the Halloween half of it all is dressing up as - well, monsters, you know - scary creatures, to go unnoticed among the real Big Bad that are traveling around during this time."
...
This is how it went:
"I really don't see why I have to be a ghost of all things", exclaimed Rodney McKay, and added in a mumble, "I was invisible for long enough on Earth."
"Well, McKay, if you had remembered to find yourself a costume, we wouldn't have had to come up with last-minute solutions", John Sheppard impatiently explained.
"Wha- I didn't forget it, I was simply too busy! Do you know how difficult it was to program the perfectly fine working lights into flickering ominously, and the speakers to crackle sinisterly and figure out a placement plan for the smoke machines to get maximum coverage? No? Let me tell you -"
"Alright, alright, I get it, it wasn't your fault." Sheppard rolled his eyes exasperatedly and shared a smirk with Carson Beckett, who was helping Rodney into his costume, pulling the white fabric over Rodney's head and huffing fondly. "That doesn't change the fact that you can't possibly attend without a costume, and the tried and trusted bed-sheet ghost is the costume with the least amount of time and materials needed. I mean, do you have any idea how long it took to stitch up Ronon and wrap up Teyla or how many favors me and Carson had to cash in on to get our accessories?"
"Okay, fine. But then, why did you all choose your respective costumes? Not that I was lacking ideas, of course, just time."
"Sheppard told me of the Earth mythos of blood-drinking vampires, and I deemed it appropriate, whether it is actually based on my species or not", Todd spoke up for the first time, slightly more muffled through the additional row of fake teeth to lengthen his canines.
"And with our history, I thought it was hilarious to act out the old-as-time vampire and werewolf rivalry", Sheppard shrugged, but wiggled his butt so he could wag his attached tail.
"And John mentioned how I could easily play an Egyptian Queen or a - what was it called?" Teyla glanced at the Colonel "- a pharaoh, since I already acted as a Wraith Queen once before."
"For me, coming back from the dead and still kicking ass just sounded great", Ronon added with a dangerous glint in his eyes and a grin full of yellowed teeth.
"And I always wanted to work miracles. Obviously, I don't have magic, so I chose the medical field instead as second-best option, but one can dream a little, eh? And at least play at doing wonders", Carson concluded, his hat tilting dangerously to the side, as he bent down to grab his wand and broom, now that Rodney was taken care of and everyone ready to join Richard Woolsey and Evan Lorne at the party in the mess hall that was about to start in 10 minutes.
...
This is how it ended:
In the middle of a large crowd of cheering Athosians and New Lanteans - two of whom were filming the spectacle with cameras in their hands, both unsteady from the alcohol and trembling from the full-body laughter shaking them and their neighbors - a wholly wrecked and wasted Richard Woolsey, a totally stoned and hammered Teyla Emmagan and an utterly smashed and plastered Ronon Dex battled with one another in a fierce fight to determine which one of their unique dance styles would be declared the winner - the jerky twitches of a decaying Zombie, the limited moves of a mummified Pharaoh or the inanimate gestures of an inhuman Robot.
(The next day, Richard Woolsey would demand all evidence to be destroyed, but Evan Lorne - pirate that he was - would go against the rules and steal some copies for further safekeeping.)
Meanwhile, in a dark corner, apart from those gathered spectators and supporters, John Sheppard got his life drained out - oh, no, please, excuse this misunderstanding - he got his breath kissed out of him by a life-sucking Alien very keen and eager to live up to expectations.
(The next day, John Sheppard would wonder whether those really were just normal hickeys on his neck - at least, according to Wraith standards - or already some serious and concern-requring bites.)
In the meantime, Carson Beckett was nowhere to be found, but curiously enough, the ghost of Rodney McKay seemed to have doubled in size, grown another two legs beneath the hem of its cover, and was moving and sounding quite funnily.
(The next day, Rodney McKay would acknowledge that he hadn't been too invisible, but just enough invisibility would grant some much needed peace, whereas Carson Beckett would reevaluate whether he was or wasn't magical.)