At 10:35 AM 8/2/99 -0400, Brendan wrote:
On Mon, 02 Aug 1999, "Julian Fong" <fong_jh@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
Something seems very familiar about this situation, but I can't put
my finger on it. Maybe it's the old Looney Tunes short with Bugs
Bunny and Elmer getting the hats dropped on their heads, or an old
thread on r.a.a about what you'd do if you could use Hime-chan's
ribbon... anyway, it reminds me of something, but I don't remember
what.
In the second season Buffy the Vampire Slayer Halloeen special,
Guile's old "friend" Ethan opened a costume shop, then cast a spell
causing everyone to turn into whatever their costume was. Ex, Xander
picked up a prop gun, and turned into a hardboiled mercenary.
I'm prety sure there've been plenty of other examples, but
that's the one that sticks in my mind.
Well, I didn't want to bring this up in public, and was going
to email Kenjiko about it privately, but this plot is ALSO the core
idea of a piece of internet fiction (NOT fanfic, but an original story)
entitled "No More Fakes", by Louis Epstein.
Written for the Transformation Story Archive's Mailing List,
here is the official entry for the "No More Fakes" universe/storyline
as done by the authors..
*************************
Entry #11
NO MORE FAKES
[Universe creator: Louis Epstein (E-Mail: biggname1234@put.com)]
SYNOPSIS: On October 31, 1996 in The City (a specific city that is
deliberately not named), the Raucous Chicken Club, a mansion or converted
mansion is hosting a Halloween costume party. An actual wizard of
considerable power appeared nearby on his way to see a man about an amulet.
Mistaking a costume wizard for his contact, he followed him into the party.
After repeated attempts to inquire of the amulet, Alucar probed his mind for
the truth. Upon finding himself at a mere costume party, he cried, "I've had
it with this roomful of fakes!" and disappeared in a puff of smoke. As a
result, everyone at the party was transformed into what they were costumed
as, gaining some of the abilities and at times the mindset of that form.
Transformations of the body are total. Everyone is transformed physically
into their characters. However, there are some restrictions.
The changes validate all supposed exposed flesh and make what would go under
clothes be under the clothes. Costumes without genitalia now need surgery
just to urinate! Unfortunately, surgical alterations heal back after time,
like normal wounds would on a normal creature of that type. Also, innards
are changed, according to what the costumer believes a real version has
inside it. Thus a chicken morph may now lay eggs. Finally, size is
unaffected. A costumed king Kong will not grow fifty feet, nor will a
costumed pixie shrink.
Mental transformations depend on how "in character" people were during the
party. Someone who just looked on the costume as clothes wouldn't be
affected, but those consciously thinking of themselves as their characters
have trouble regaining their identities. This can range from a few new
impulses to entirely forgetting that the old self once existed, and
everything in between, like split personalities.
If a costume had powers, such as a wizard costume, the newly real character
will have many of the same ones. However, nobody gets the power to change
everybody back to their former selves, or at least not permanently.
Transmittable changes, such as from werewolves or vampires, hold true, but
the contagion lessions with each generation away from the original changee.
There are some claims that the transformed will not age, reverting
constantly to their current form in a similar fashion to the surgery
process. This is not yet confirmed. And unknown to nearly everyone, the
powerful sexy wizard Caltherana, who is even more powerful than Alculcar,
arrives on earth several days after the event, summoned by some wizards. She
is staying with a college kid-turned-wizard. She will not reveal her nature
to others unless they ask it, and will... consider it, if they ask to be
changed back.
Note: No one can find anyone who can overturn the rules she will enforce.
By November fourth, someone has proposed another party at the Raucous
Chicken on the 14th, hoping lightning will strike twice.
The change is noticed by the world at large. Police and federal agents
(including the X-Files, which is real here) do investigate, and
psychological counselors are called in. The press have a field day.
********************
Well, that's about it. Kenjiko, we know you don't like
disclaimers, that's obvious from what you use at the start of
each fic. ^_^ But in this case, if you got the idea from the
X-files or from No More Fakes, or from any other show, you should
really disclaim it. Or, if you came up with it on your own (Hey, it's
POSSIBLE, folks.. great minds DO tend to think alike!) then you
should say so, but grant credit to those who came before you
with the same idea.
Guess that's all I have to say at the moment. I hope
that there are no hard feelings, Kenjiko. If so, I humbly
appologize and will write an official letter of appology to
the list, should you feel I need to.
Take care, keep writing, and I hope to see more
of "Girl Days".
Edward Becerra
"Dreamers may die, but the Dream is eternal..."
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