Halloween in the City

[sarah_branigan]

Every year, the City grows more festive in its holiday celebration. Maybe people are getting a better handle on how to celebrate, or maybe the City is getting better organized. There are more jack o'lanterns on porch steps, more costumes for sale at the five and dime, and more celebrations downtown

Comments

[anna_was_emma]

Anna arrives early in the evening, wearing an elaborate costume of beads, shells and sequined fabric. She is dressed as a mermaid, and her tail is a train that has to be looped over one arm. She wasn't quite daring enough to be a topless mermaid, so the shining fabric of the tail reaches all the way up to just above her breasts, but it's tight against her body. She looks just a little sheepish, and just a little cold.

John's arm is around her protectively. He skipped the fireman costume this year in favor of a sailor suit to match his mermaid bride. His outfit is crisp and tailored, as if it were made for him. It's possible he altered it himself. He looks more comfortable, but Anna's clearly got him distracted.

They knock at the front door, bearing a bottle of sparkling cider.

[sarah_branigan]

Mary answers, still happy to play the role of hostess. She lets out a wolf whistle at Anna's costume, surprised and impressed. "Anna! You look fine. Who's this handsome sailor you ditched the fireman for?" She winks at them both, then steps aside to let them in. There aren't any decorations inside, unless one counts the raven playing with a shiny candy wrapper on the couch, but there are chocolate marshmallow bites and little pumpkin-shaped cookies on the living room table, as well as a big bowl of mini candy bars.

[anna_was_emma]

Anna goes bright red! "Oh, I designed it without thinking about actually wearing it. I'm a little embarrassed, honestly. But John says I look pretty. You look wonderful!"

John laughs sheepishly and shepherds Anna inside. "I thought the fireman things was getting old after two years. Besides, I didn't want to get put to work downtown." He looks distinctly interested in the cookies.

"Also, trick or treat," puts in Anna with a grin.

[sarah_branigan]

She gives a small curtsy at the compliment. "I think I'll go with treat. Help yourself. Do you want me to open that bottle you brought?" Just sparkling cider? Oh, well. She can have a glass or two of something stronger later.

Technically, she is also giving them a trick, since they haven't noticed yet that she's not acting like herself. She's not keen on going into an explanation about that, because it'll lead to talk about Tom, blah blah depressing.

[j_murdoch]

Sorry, Mary, John's not allowed to drink. He offers up the bottle with a sheepish smile. "Please do. We knew you'd have the edibles covered, but we wanted to contribute."

"I'm just not the baker you are," Anna makes her way to a seat, swaying a little awkwardly with the weight of her tail. John seems to enjoy watching the performance.

"I made a pumpkin pie, but the crust burned around the edges," she goes on. "I think the oven must have been too hot."

It's Halloween, everyone is acting a little strange! And they don't know much about Mary, so they're not likely to recognize her.

[sarah_branigan]

Man, everyone she knows is a tee-totaler. "I'll be right back with a couple of glasses," she says, taking the bottle.

She returns with a tray, three filled champagne flutes upon it. "You gotta put some tin foil on the crust, when it's about half-done," she explains. "The crust always cooks quicker then the rest of the pie."

Orwell spies Anna's costume and immediately hops over to where she's sitting. So many beads, shells, and shiny things!!! It's like Christmas and his birthday all in one! He hops a little closer to her, looking for an opening.

[anna_was_emma]

"Oh, I never even thought of that," Anna beams. "We ate it anyway, but I'll try tin foil next time, thank you!"

John blinks at the champagne flutes. "Fancy! You'll kill me if I break this, won't you?"

Nevermind that he could fix it if he did break it.

Anna is oblivious to Orwell's sudden interest in her. She has necklaces and bracelets of shells and beads. They sparkle invitingly as she reaches out for a glass.

[sarah_branigan]

"No point in wasting a pie," she agrees. She sets down the tray and offers John one of the glasses. "Nah, it's cool. We never use these, anyway." Is that a wistfully disappointed look on her face?

Orwell takes a chance, and soon Anna will find a raven poking at her bracelet, trying to grab one of the shinies.

[dr_schreber]

It has been so busy and Schreber has been so distracted and Halloween just snuck up on Schreber. With things being so busy he hasn't had time to go looking for a costume and is reusing one. When he hears the door he doesn't get up right away because he's trying to catch up on the Nexus and Mary can handle trick or treaters. And then he hears John's voice.
Uhoh. He hasn't warned them about Mary.
Schreber gets up in a hurry, at least as much as he can.
Schrebunny comes into the living room with a kind of nervous smile. "Ah... hello. Happy Halloween!"

[j_murdoch]

John accepts the glass with a smile. "Yeah, I know that feeling."

Anna elbows him and frowns a little. No, he's not allowed to have champagne, either. Then she notices the raven at her wrist. "Oh! Oh, my. Hello, Orwell. No, you can't have my jewelry!"

"Happy Halloween," John replies as Schreber walks in. "Nice ears. Everything okay, Doc?" He knows that nervous look.

[sarah_branigan]

Orwell backs off a little, then tries again, but not as forcefully. The bracelet is just too distracting, and Anna's tone is too nice. Maybe he can play with the shinies without pulling them off.

"Hey there, Mr. Rabbit." Mary walks over to Daniel and runs a finger along one of his fake ears. "Maybe I should have dressed up as Alice, instead. Sparkling cider?" She offers him her glass with a flirty smile. She knows exactly why he's smiling nervously.

[dr_schreber]

((Yeep! I didn't know it was my turn again!))

"Orwell, behave." He knows it is not all that useful to say it because Orwell doesn't follow commands like that. "You both look nice! We've... been busy, since the carni...val. We need to catch up..." He meets John's eyes with a kind of 'I really need to talk to you!' look but then Mary is up close and being affectionate. He blushes. "Thank you. Maybe next year?" He takes the glass.

[anna_was_emma]

Affectionate is a good word for it. Anna's starting to notice the difference in Sarah's behavior, whether John is or not. She watches her, a little puzzled, but speaks to them both. "...thank you, Daniel. Have you two had many trick or treaters tonight?"

She tries to pull her bracelet out of Orwell's reach. He's likely to interpret this as playing.

John raises an eyebrow at Schreber. "Okay. How about we all go for a walk on the beach? The house can take care of itself for half an hour, right?" And maybe they can put enough distance between themselves and the ladies to have a chat.

[sarah_branigan]

"Just the kids from the neighborhood," Mary replies. There aren't many children of trick-or-treating age in the City, but a good number of them live near Shell Beach, as it's a bit more family-friendly.

She snuggles a bit closer to Daniel and murmurs into his ear (his real one), "We don't have to wait until next Halloween." She seems to like John's idea, however. "Sure, sounds like fun. I'll grab a jacket." A short one, too, so she can at least show off part of her costume.

Orwell looks Schreber's way, then goes back to poking at the shinies, but he doesn't try to pull on them at least.

[dr_schreber]

That is probably not what John meant, for Sarah to come along, but Schreber isn't sure he wants to leave Mary and Anna alone together either. He nods and rubs the scars beside his eye and fidgets. "That's... fine. We should let Thorn know if we're... all going out though." Something is definitely not right! And Schrebs doesn't know quite how to tell them but he should maybe start with Tom...