It was that time again. The townspeople were anxious; what would it be this time? Who would be chosen? Some were excited, a few more didn't care. Many of them dreaded the event, and weren't sure why they were forced to participate.
There had been no news yet. Maybe, like last year, there would be no event at all?
But then, one blustery Tuesday morning, the signal went out. With sighs, some grins, and a lot of eye rolling, the town council gathered in their hall. For about twenty minutes they stood waiting, exchanging murmured comments and, in a few cases, wagers.
At last the phone on the table in the center of the hall rang. The head of the council stepped forward to answer it. No one could hear her quiet replies to what was said, but they watched as her gaze flicked across their group, looking for certain faces. With a final nod and comment she hung up the phone.
"It's official," she said, "we're doing it." Then she listed fourteen names, nearly all of them from different parts of the town. All of them the town's most important people. Those who hadn't been named filed out of the hall, their reactions mostly falling somewhere between relief and glee. The head of the council exited last, saying, "At least try to have fun with this one."
Fourteen faces turned toward the screen at the front of the hall as it flickered on. Reactions varied little as they were shown what they would be doing for this year's event. They broke into an almost excited chatter. It wouldn't be so bad, they agreed. In fact, for most of them it actually made sense. Someone snickered at the costume designs, and was promptly punched on the shoulder.
"We'd better get started," one of the older ladies said. "We have just over two weeks, and we don't want to be late this time."
One of the guys gestured apologetically.
Opening the door to leave the hall, they found a crowd waiting outside. Smiling at the prompt exit of the participants, the head councillor raised her voice to address all the story characters gathered.
"Our protagonists are dressing up as wizards this year! Happy Halloween!"
EDIT: Okay so it looks like I won't be getting any more of these wizards drawn before halloween, but I might draw them later. I enjoy this idea too much to let it go, apparently. (I wanted a fun holiday dress-up, not a combined headworld AU dammit.) I'll also upload my sketches of all their outfits, probably to my scraps, so there's that.