hathor_girl

"Samantha, why has the mess hall been, ah, decorated like this?" Martouf frowned. "I must admit I thought at first it needed cleaning, and that you had a, ah, problem with infestation."

Sam grinned. "Oh, you mean the cobwebs, spiders, and stuff? Yeah, that's all fake. It's part of Halloween, that we, ah, decorate like this. It's supposed to give a scary - but cosy - atmosphere."

"How can it be both?" Malek looked completely confused. "There are even skeletonsas decoration - it looks horrific. Like a terrible torture chamber or some other place of horror."

"I agree." Freya said, looking very uncomfortable.

"Don't worry, it's not that we humans enjoy horror or anything - well, many humans like a thrill or small scare, as long as we know it's not real. Like watching horror movies, you know." Sam explained to the puzzled Tok'ra.

Which only made them more puzzled. Jacob was standing in a corner, grinning. "Give up, Sam! You can't explain it!"

She sighed, then spotted Daniel. "No, maybe not, but Daniel can! Hi, Daniel! Come here and tell the Tok'ra about Halloween!" She turned to the Tok'ra. "He's an archaeologist, a historian, an anthropologist, and a linguist. You should get along well, Freya and Anise."

"Sure Sam." He smiled at the Tok'ra, but most to Anise, who had quickly taken control from Freya. Sam noted with surprise that the symbiote seemed to find Daniel cute. "I can try, anyway."

"That would be most interesting...?" Anise said.

"Doctor Daniel Jackson, but you can just call me Daniel."

"Daniel. Pleased to meet you. I looked forward to discussing history and archaeology with you." Anise smiled, not something the other Tok'ra saw often, so they did a double take. Was she interested in this human?

"Well, Halloween came to this country, the USA, from Ireland, when people immigrated here. It's actually not that old a tradition here, only from the mid 18 hundred. It's an old tradition in Europe, going back to pre-Christian markings of the end of Summer and beginning of Winter. It was called Samhain, and the druids - the priests - would make prediction for how the next year would be. Also, that night, it was thought that the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead, was very thin, and the dead could cross over and come back. Various supernatural creatures was also thought to be especially active that night. Humans then lit fires to scare evil spirits away, and put out food and drink to appease them. The fires were also supposed to help the dead find their way back to where they came from. Aside from that, it was also a day for fun and parades, before the long and dark and cold winter. Groups of people went from house to house and begged for food to a party, and if they got nothing, they would make mischief to punish those who didn't want to give anything. That is still reflected in the trick-or-treating many children do, but in the past it was also adults. Later, when the countries became Christian, the Church transformed the day to a day where you pray for the dead's souls. Of course, the people continued following both traditions, and what we have today is a mixture."

"That is very interesting, Daniel." Anise said. "But Jacob said we were supposed to dress up, why is that?"

"It also does not explain the predilection for scary decorations." Malek pointed out.

"No, that's true, but people dressed up when they went to beg at the houses, and they also dressed up to hide their true self from any evil spirits that were out. They also made carved-out beets, with lights in, to light the road, scare away evil spirits, and help the other spirits find their way back. It later evolved to carving pumpkins - as one of those you can see there on the desk. Nice, huh?"

"So it is a day when you believe the dead come back?" Martouf looked strangely at them.

"No, nowadays it's just a...celebration of harvest, I guess you could say, people having fun, dressing up, and getting some good food and candies." Daniel explained.

"Okay." Martouf said, not completely convinced.

"Well, let's get some food, and then we can go get costumes for us all." Sam smiled.

"Yeah, about that, Sam...actually, we brought costumes." Jacob said, looking a bit embarrassed.

"You did?" Sam looked surprised.

"Yes, they were brought to the quarters assigned to us, together with out other clothing and things." Malek explained.

Sam slapped herself over the forehead. "I can't believe I'm the only one without a costume! Even people from other planets are better prepared than I am!"

"Do not worry, Samantha. We have a costume for you as well." Martouf told her.

"So, let me see those costumes." Sam said, when they had eaten.

"Not until tonight." Jacob said.

"Come on, at least tell me what I am dressing up as!"

"Actually...I don't know."

"None of us do - except Selmak." Freya said.

"What?" Sam asked, shocked.

"Yes, she insisted on choosing costumes for us all, including you, when I told her about Halloween - I think she went through my mind and picked something she feels would work." Jacob said. "She kept it all from me - and blocked me from it when she went to pick them out and packed them. It's her secret and surprise!"

"Yes, we are all somewhat apprehensive to see what she has picked." Lantash said, with a glint in his eyes.

Sam smiled widely. "Really, dad? Selmak hasn't told anyone? She's keeping it a secret even from you? That's just too funny!"

"I'm glad someone enjoys this!" Jacob grumbled, but then smiled. He was happy to be enjoying himself with his daughter and his good friends. He felt this Halloween would be great, and Selmak agreed, enthusiastically.

They had picked up the IDs for the Tok'ra, and now Sam turned to them, seeing that it was already mid-afternoon.

"You know, guys, I promised Janet and Cassandra that I would go trick-or-treating with them, so I think I'll have to leave you for some hours." Sam said.

"Would it be possible for us to accompany you?" Martouf asked, hopefully. He would very much like to spend more time with her. "Lantash and I would like to learn more of your traditions."

"Um, I don't know if that's a good idea..." Sam saw his crest-fallen look, and the other Tok'ra looked sad too. Then she grinned. Why not? "You know, maybe. I just need to ask Janet if she and Cassie is okay with it! I'll be back in a moment!" She ran off to her office, to call Janet, who had taken the day off to help with preparing for the trick-or-treating, and then later for the party at Jack's place.

It was only a short time later, when Sam came back. Cassandra had been a little apprehensive, because the Tok'ra were, technically, biologically, Goa'uld, but she also loved the idea of having a bunch of people go trick-or-treating with her - and people who knew much less about Earth than she did. She had eventually agreed to it. Janet liked the idea, and sounded enthusiastic.

"Hi, guys! Janet and Cassie sad yes! But we should wear costumes. Is that okay?" Sam said.

Jacob dipped his head and gave Selmak control. "I would have preferred to wait until the party, but it would be most educational about your culture to take part in this 'trick-or-treating', so I shall agree. Yes, let us put on our costumes."

"Great! Lead the way!" Sam smiled.

They all followed Selmak into the quarters assigned to her and her host.

"Wow, Malek, that's...that's an interesting, and very daring outfit." Sam managed, almost exploding in laughter when she looked at the Tok'ra. "You just need fangs!"

Malek wore a costume that would have fit Dracula perfectly, even down to the long black cape with red lining.

"Do I look strange to a Tau'ri? I found this outfit to be quite pleasing." Malek said, looking hard at Selmak who was laughing.

"I took this image from Jacob's mind. He had seen it in a movie, and I thought it would be fitting for Halloween, is that not correct? I was unable to find suitable fangs, though, since that is not normally something we would have for our undercover work. The rest was in the storage on the base, along with many other things for use when going undercover. Actually, that is where I managed to find all the costumes."

"It's not a problem at all, Malek, and it's actually a great costume for Halloween. Very fitting. As for fangs, I know where we can buy some." Sam grinned. "To be honest, I think you will be a big hit with the ladies. At least with Janet - I know she has this thing for vampires..."

Malek still looked split between anger, uncertainty, and being flattered, but decided on the latter. "I see. Then I shall look forward to meeting this 'Janet'."

Selmak smiled and handed Anise a box with her costume, and she went to change, while the others sat back and waited. This was actually quite entertaining.

"You know, why don't we get something to eat and drink while we wait?" Sam suggested.

"I am not hungry yet, Samantha. It was not long since we ate." Martouf said.

"I know. I didn't mean food - more like snacks, you know?" Sam smiled. "I'll be back in a moment - before Anise and Freya finishes dressing!"

Sam returned a short time later with a bag of smarties, a pack of crackers, some peanuts, and a big bag of potato chips. She poured them into some bowls she had brought, and put on a table. Then she took a couple large bottles of soda from her bag, as well as some paper cups. "So, try it out." Sam said, taking a cup of diet coke and some smarties, before sitting down.

Martouf went to the table and poured some of the diet coke and tasted it, grimacing, clearly not liking it. He then tried the other bottle, which contained regular coke, which he like marginally better. He tried each of the different types of snacks, and decided he liked them all. Lantash agreed, though he found the food unhealthy. However, he liked the smarties enough that he agreed to let Martouf take what he wanted from it, if he could be in control for eating those.

Selmak and Malek had just grabbed some snacks and drinks as well, when Anise came out from the bathroom, prancing proudly in her demon costume. Her very skimpy, sexy devil costume, complete with small horns and a tail.

"Selmak, did you really find that in your undercover gear?" Sam asked, shocked. "It's awesome, by the way, Anise. The men are gonna love you!"

"That is what Freya and I hope - especially one particular man. Or maybe more, we shall see the selection at the party." Anise grinned, allowing herself to be swayed from the cool scientist to the sexy seductress Freya could be.

"I found most of it among our undercover clothing, however the tail I had to manufacture, and the horns are a modified version of a type of headgear some Goa'uld wear. Quite a lot modified." Selmak smiled widely, happily.

"Very talented!" Martouf ogled Anise.

"I agree." Malek said, almost drooling.

"Jacob shares your opinion." Selmak looked smug.

"My turn?" Martouf asked.

"Certainly. Here you go!" Selmak gave him a box with his costume.

"With those kind of costumes, it's a good thing it's not really cold today - it's around mid-sixties, so as long as we are moving, we should be able to keep warm. It will be cool tonight though, but I guess we'll be inside most of the time." Sam rationalized.

"There are capes for all the costumes, not just Malek's." Selmak said. "The fits the costume, and should be warm enough."

"Awesome!"

They waited for some time, and then Martouf appeared from the bathroom, having put on his costume.

"Wow!" Sam finally said, after looking at him for a while, hoping the others didn't notice how affected she was. He was so sexy! Well, he always was, even in the somewhat concealing Tok'ra uniforms, but in this! She swallowed, having a hard time not staring at his butt.

Martouf smiled widely. "I am pleased you approve."

"Oh, I do. Very much." She roved her eyes over him.

He was dressed as a pirate - a very sexy pirate, or maybe more just a rogue.

Jacob was admonishing Selmak for her choice of clothes and the clear effect it had on Sam, but she just giggled, which made Jacob worried.

"You turn, Samantha." Selmak said, holding a box out to her and grinning.

"You're making me nervous, do you know?" Sam smiled, grabbing the box and going to change.

Nervous, Sam stepped out of the bathroom, after looking herself in the mirror many times. Could she really wear this? Selmak had picked this? What was she up to? What would her dad say? And more importantly, would Martouf like it? It was very sexy, and fitted her extremely well, to the point of Sam being very impressed with how good Selmak was a guessing - she had rarely found clothing this flattering to her body herself! Of course, it was also very revealing - much more than what she felt comfortable in. However, she told herself, this was for fun, dressing up - and maybe for seducing Martouf and Lantash!

"Um, you really think I should wear this?" Sam asked.

"Absolutely!" Lantash said, with conviction, unable to take his eyes of her.

Jacob screamed and Selmak in their head, but she just laughed, telling him to get over himself. Sam was an adult - and she and Martouf/Lantash needed a little push towards each other.

Sam was wearing an outfit that could probably best be described as a fairy, but a wicked one, because there was nothing innocent about the costume. The dress was short, and with a deeply plunging breast-line, the clothing of a wonderfully soft, and just translucent silk material. On her back sat a small pair of wings, and she wore high heels and held a magic staff with a star on it.

"It is very becoming of you, Samantha." Selmak said.

"Very much so." Malek agreed, admiring her openly.

"Selmak clearly has a very good eye for clothing." Freya added in, smiling.

"Yes, and now it's time for her to change into her costume, because we need to leave soon, if we want to get to the store and get those fake fangs for Malek before meeting Janet and Cassandra." Sam reminded them.

"Of course, and your father very much looks forward to seeing our costume as well. With some trepidation!" Selmak added, grinning, as she took the box with her own clothing.

After some time, Selmak exited the bathroom, wearing wizards clothes. A long, well-fitted robe, and even a hat. She and Jacob looked very distinguished and elegant. She winked at them all, then gave Jacob control.

"Nice, dad!" Sam said.

He rolled his eyes. "Well I guess it could have been worse, considering what she put the rest of you in." He sighed. "She's not getting to pick next time!"

"Why not - I think she did a great job." Sam told him.

The others quickly agreed, and somewhat reluctantly Jacob accepted.