1st Annual Halloween Block Party!

[iam_senpai]

Perhaps it's the leaves of fiery golds and oranges drifting on the breeze, or the sight of various hard squash being mangled into festive ornaments, or even still the bowls of candy left out simply everywhere in the Nexus that signifies the import of today. Regardless of when you take heed, Halloween has come to the Nexus.

Neat little handmade signs and fliers of all kinds lead to a particularly festive sectioned off block with the Crossroads Cafe at the center. The brick building has more than its fair share of decorations hung from every available windowsill and door. Hanging skeletons, jolly Jack-O-Lanterns, orange and black streamers cascading down and blowing to and fro in the crisp breeze.

The doors are propped open just waiting to beckon you inside. What are you waiting for?

((See the OOC post if you have any questions! Backtagging and threadhopping are fine. Come on in and have a blast :D ))



Coats and Costumes
The Cafe
Bonfire
Dance Floor
Haunted House
Side Halls and Storage

Comments

[shardofwinter]

"They had to discover them first, and then found that they worked better." His head bobs a little from side to side before he concedes, "They do look better than turnips and potatoes."

He leans back so that she can fully see his surprise. "A tragedy indeed. Have you always appreciated the bittersweet and melancholy?"

[chiron_survivor]

She puzzles over what he means, briefly. "The pumpkins weren't growing where Halloween originated?" she guesses. She laughs a little at the comparison. "Well, I think they taste a lot better than turnips, anyway."

His surprise makes her self-conscious for some reason. "I guess... I mean, I've never liked sad stories about children or animals, but it's different somehow when it's about lovers. And Orpheus... he never hurt anyone. He just sang from his heart. His only flaw was his own doubt."

[shardofwinter]

"No. Halloween originated in Ireland and the pumpkins were in America. They had to cross an unforgiving ocean for the perfect Jack-o'-Lanterns." He echoes her laugh with a chuckle. "You're right. They're better by a mile, my dear."

It's hard for him to temper his smile, but at least he comes close again and stops looking at her. "A character you sympathise with, perhaps?"

[chiron_survivor]

Ireland! That's a new country name for Adia. She'll try to remember it so she can look it up later on one of the Nexus terminals. Which reminds her of something else she looked up recently. "Oh, Reynard, I watched some videos of svanuri dancing the other day. It was amazing. I don't think we had a dance like that in any of the colonies."

It's easier for her to answer when he looks away. "Almost all of our heroes are warriors. There aren't many to aspire to if you don't like to fight."

[shardofwinter]

"I'm glad that you liked it." And he looks a little chuffed that she both looked it up and enjoyed it. "It is marvellous, isn't it?" A grin sneaks onto his face. "Maybe one day we'll move onto doing a bit of Svanuri."

That's a fair point. Fighting was a basic part of life for so long in so many cultures that it's hardly surprising to find Adia's world applauds its virtues too. "You need more stories of tricksters and thinkers. Have you heard of Anansi? Or Br'er Rabbit? You might like them more."

[chiron_survivor]

Rather than dismiss Reynard's teasing suggestion, she smiles thoughtfully. "It looks like a lot of fun, actually. Although I didn't see any women dancing in the videos."

Being at war -- or under occupation, at any rate -- seems to bring out the desire to fight in so many around her. It's exhausting. "I haven't. I'll look them up... we have a few stories of tricksters, like Hermes, but he can get away with it." She smiles wryly. "Fooling the gods never ended well for humans."

[shardofwinter]

"Women do dance too." With a cheeky grin he adds, "They're half the reason to after all."

"You need more stories of gods tricking gods and humans tricking humans. Or humans tricking beasts and spirits."

The song ends and as it does Reynard tilts his head and looks at Adia questioningly. "Another dance or would you like a drink?"

[chiron_survivor]

"I'll have to watch more videos, then." Adia perhaps accurately assumes that Reynard has swept many a woman off her feet, both literally and figuratively. "And read more stories, apparently. If you know of any other good ones, let me know."

It's a difficult decision -- she actually wouldn't mind another dance, but the heat of the lights and all the moving around has left her a bit parched. "A drink would be nice, actually." She smiles shyly. "That was fun, Reynard. Thank you for reminding me that I do like to dance, sometimes."

[shardofwinter]

"It's my pleasure, Adia." He steps back to offer her an elbow for her to take before he leads them to the café. While they walk he scans the place for a good spiced wine. It would be perfect right about now.

"Have you carved a pumpkin yet? If you haven't you should give it a go."

[chiron_survivor]

She doesn't really need to, but she takes his elbow anyway, grateful. It's so much easier for her to enjoy herself at a party when she's with a friend, especially one who is more comfortable taking the lead.

"No, not yet. It looks a little messy to get the guts out. Have you carved one? They look very nice, all glowing from the inside."

[shardofwinter]

It's as much for show as it is for leading and sticking together. The Devil and Medusa walking through a party amuses him too much for him to resist.

"I have. I've done a fair bit of carpentry in my time. Carving pumpkins is a frivolous follow on from that." Finding a glass that catches his eye, he scoops it up and turns to Adia again. "If you like I could 'disembowel' one for you. Some of them require a bit of elbow grease to hollow out, but I would be happy to help."

[chiron_survivor]

She's glad that she put in some effort on her costume. She'd be disappointed, otherwise, walking with someone so impressively dressed.

"I would never have associated pumpkin carving with carpentry," Adia says with a small grin. After some deliberation, she also decides to take a glass of spiced wine. It smells delicious, and she has a full stomach, thanks to the cafe's generous buffet. She's not worried about becoming intoxicated.

"Oh... thank you. I'd appreciate the help." She's not afraid of hard work, or getting dirty. Her normal attire would attest to that. But unlike her dusty coat or mud-caked shoes, the dress she has on is spotless. She'd rather not get her sleeves flecked with pumpkin gunk.

[shardofwinter]

"It means I know how to use a lot of tools perfect for pumpkin carving," he explains with a grin.

The acceptance of his offer is met with a bright smile. He dips his head and leads them back out to where the pumpkins and tools are waiting. "This is why Halloween is an excellent time to make pumpkin soup. There's always plenty of ingredients for it. Would you like to choose which one you'd like to work with?"

[chiron_survivor]

It does seem like a fun and creative tradition, even if the initial reasons for carving scary faces into gourds wasn't nearly so light-hearted. "Sure, I'll choose." Taking a small sip of wine, she looks over her options. The larger pumpkins offer plenty of surface to work with, but would take longer to scoop out, so she picks one on the smaller side. "That one's good."

[shardofwinter]

Reynard untangles his arm to place a hand on his heart and bow obligingly while he keeps the wine glass in his other hand steady. He takes a sip and then hefts the chosen pumpkin under one arm to move it to a bench with some carving materials. If he looks comfortable in the way he sets down his glass, rolls up his sleeves and gets to work, it's because he is. Hard graft and he are close friends.

"What do you think you'll carve? A scary face? A nice one? An image like a bat or a cat?"

[chiron_survivor]

Never one to take his gestures for granted, Adia smiles and follows his to the work bench. Digging out pumpkins isn't so messy that she can't stand nearby and watch him work.

It takes her several seconds and another sip of wine to consider his question. This party has been a crash course on Halloween, and after having dressed up, socialized, and even danced, she wants to select an image for her pumpkin in the true spirit of the holiday.

"A scary face," she says finally. "The scariest one I know."

[shardofwinter]

His brow lifts and a low rumble vibrates through his throat. "I'm intrigued already."

He is quickly elbow high in pumpkin flesh and seeds, scooping them out with a spoon and his fingers, sloping them into a bowl. Eventually he runs his hands along the inside and nods in approval. He steps back and gestures to the pumpkin before finding a nearby towel to clean his arms with. "It's all yours." Sitting down so that he can watch, he winks at her. "I hope it's not my face you're planning to put on there."

[chiron_survivor]

Adia smiles mysteriously. At least until Reynard mentions his own face. Then she bursts into giggles. "No, no... not your real face, and not your mask, although it is scary." She sets down her glass of wine and picks up a marker. As clear as her vision is, she doesn't think she can carve out the image freeform. "Who are you supposed to be again? A devil?"

[shardofwinter]

"The devil, yes. 'Lucifer Morningstar'," he announces dramatically and then takes a sip of his wine. "The embodiment of man's fear and hatred, an excuse to unleash his crueler side and still be treated as good. The scariest thing to most people is himself, or herself, and Satan is a terrifying reflection."

[chiron_survivor]

"The Devil?" Adia looks at Reynard briefly before returning to her sketch. She's going slowly, concerned about how each potential cut will affect the structural integrity of the pumpkin. "I haven't heard those names before. I think I understand what you mean, though. People used to claim to be possessed by spirits, or influenced by them." She frowns a little at her sketch. "Do you think there is any merit to that? Or are we always responsible for our actions?"

[shardofwinter]

In the moment between her asking and his answer there is the expression of a man caught out. He hasn't said what he is, but this question is certainly relevant to him. How many times has he altered a person's behaviour during the Winter months? How many times has he skewed perception or forced a situation upon someone? He looks away to hide what feels to be written all over his face.

He gives her question serious thought before he answers. "Some things are out of our control. But if someone is possessed or influenced by a... spirit or demon... I think that is when it is most important to take responsibility for our actions, our thoughts and our feelings. Otherwise how do you know where you stop and this other entity begins? A man could lose himself that way."

[chiron_survivor]

She catches his expression in the corner of her eye, but it's gone before she can even process it. Had she touched a nerve? She hadn't meant to, but there's a lot about Reynard she doesn't know. It doesn't feel like he's dishonest with her, but he hasn't been exactly forthcoming about his true nature, either.

She hopes that he isn't hiding something sinister. She likes having him as a friend.

"Some people don't know themselves well enough to make that distinction," she remarks quietly. before smiling wryly. "Good thing I no longer worry about secretly being a Cylon." She finishes her sketch and stands back to admire her work. It's a simple outline of what appears to be a robot's head. The "eyes" are just one long slit, like a knight's visor. "That should do it... which tool here is best for cutting?"

[shardofwinter]

By now he should have probably have told her, warned her, maybe. Should she have mentioned his name to anyone else he's certain that he would not be described in glowing terms. It's a miracle she hasn't discovered him already... But being treated both normally yet respectfully is such a delight, such a treat. He's not ready to give it up. He likely won't be until the eleventh hour.

"A wise and true observation," he rumbles approvingly, then he sips his wine and stands. Picking up a knife he runs a finger along the flat of the edge, then sets it down and inspects another. This seems to pass muster because he offers it to her. "Would you like some help for the first bit or would you like to try yourself?"

[chiron_survivor]

Funnily enough, he hasn't come up in conversation, although to be fair she hasn't spoken to many people in the Nexus, yet. Not one for conflict, she'd defend his name regardless. He has been nothing but kind to her.

She takes another sip of wine while he selects a proper knife. "I'll try," she says, carefully taking the offered knife. "I've cut into melons before." She sets down her glass and flashes him a grin. "But if you see me about to do something potentially dangerous, feel free to stop me."

[shardofwinter]

Give it a few weeks and that's bound to change, but for now he'll enjoy the hint of ambiguity.

He grins right on back. "I will, I promise. You'd never come back if you went home with cuts, and that would be an awful shame." He's happy to take up his wine again, stand back and watch, squinting at the pumpkin. "This is different..."