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(( Laz - Dunk tank -> Treat Bobbing ))

Although he did not get the full story of what actually happened, or what was happening at the moment, he got the gist of it with pieces of information from the Jack Sparrow costumer. It seemed like Anya did something... and indeed something was happening as he heard a commotion over at the pumpkin carving tables. Red eyes look warily in the direction, and noticed a familiar minty form - Eiry. That figures.

At Cordelia's questioning tone, the fire Sigel shook his head slowly, partly due to the heavy beard too. "This is not something that I could easily handle." Especially when it involves Eiry! Sure, the minty Sigel definitely respects him, but it's not like he was never been pranked by the prankster either. Directing his eyes at Rivener, he nodded. "Let Rivener handle this, they are a family after all. Who best to know how to handle Eiry right?" Surely Rivener would be more experienced at it than anyone else.

However, as much as he dislikes Basil, the cobra had a point. "Yes." He nodded at the younger Frei. "We could definitely find some games to play, let's not worry too much about what is happening over there." It could also be a mood lifter and at least distract the two Freis from the commotion at the other side of the barn. Looking in the direction of the pumpkin carving tables, Lazarus sighed heavily through his beard. Pumpkin carving is definitely out of the picture. Red eyes then look at the empty dunk tank, shaking his head gently. That was not an option too, aren't Zeke supposed to be on dunk tank duty now? Then out of the corner of his eye, a lone tank off by a corner attracted his attention. It's not as big as the dunk tank, and not as tall either.

"I think that's the Treat Bobbing tank." Lazarus said as he pointed in the direction of the tank, thankful that it was away from the pumpkin carving table. "Let's go check it out!" Sounding enthusiastic, he led the two snake Raevans towards the tank.

Upon reaching, a colorful view of ziplock bags partially submerged in water greeted them. He could also see the contents of the baggies himself, but it was blurred by the water a little. "I think we're supposed to use our teeth to pull the bags out." He explained as he read an instruction paper stuck to the side of the tank. "I think we only get three times each, I guess that's only fair for everyone. So who's going first?" This game might pose a problem for him though, he may need to take off his beard to play...

((Delia – Dunk Tank > Treat Bobbing))

Cordelia huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. She wasn’t upset at Lazarus for not doing anything because she agreed with his explanation, that it was best that Riven take care of the situation since it was sort of a family matter now. No, she was upset because of what the scorpion had said before floating off.

“Can you keep an eye on these two and make sure no one picks on them? I gotta go check on Anya real quick-..."

It was bad enough that Rivener was going off to check on that brat of a Raevan Anastacia instead of staying with them, but to add insult to injury he had to make it sound like she couldn’t take care of herself or Basil. She didn’t need a babysitter. And yet, there really wasn’t a choice for her in the matter any more as no one seemed to need her where all the commotion was. Thus she glumly, yet quietly followed after Lazarus and Basil.

Upon reaching the bobbing station, Cordelia slowly peered into the small tank and cringed. Floating back a ways behind the two boys, the basilisk spoke softly, “Laz…I can’t…not this game…” She didn’t want to ruin their fun, but had it really been that long since they last met that Lazarus would forget that Delia couldn’t come into direct contact with water? Grey eyes stared warily towards the bucket as if the contents would surely jump out and snatch her if she even dared to look away.

((Vivi = Pot Luck Table; Shepard == Middle of the Room))

The Egyptian god, that bronzed, beautiful statue, was alive. Vivi had known it and yet was thrilled to see him move and come to life and face her. Her violet lips curved into a smile at the very sound of his voice -- ethereal and low and masculine, just as a god's should be. Was he in her way? The thought was laughable. She was clearly rejoicing in her discovery of him.

"Non, monsieur, forgive my intrusion! It is that your costume, I could not help but admire i--- ah!" Vivi began her statements but found that she was the one in someone's way, and, as Zeke bumped by her, she reflexively put out a hand on the god's arm to steady herself. The raver was too quick, and too unknown to Vivi's eyes in his costume for her to worry after him, or call out in his wake. Instead, she merely blinked and laughed softly to shake off the sudden surprise.

"Aah, perhaps all the food makes us dash about? But I cannot allow myself to be distracted before I admire you fully." Vivi's face was lit by her smile, warm and coquettish but fully sincere. "It is what I have come to do, and it is what is due divinity, n'est pas?"

-

Shepard's costume was better than he thought it was, apparently, because Anita seemed like she was going to breeze past him in another moment. Shepard contemplated just following her until she managed to look under the hat, but then she paused and turned around and tried again. Her second glance didn't seem much better than her first, but then -- then -- Shepard could see that it stuck.

"Missus," Shepard droned in his unnatural accent, still biting down on his wheat stalk. "Do you got a per-mit for that there axe? Cause you ain't ruinin' my night, but you shore could ruin someone else's with that."

He flicked up his hat (the better to see you with!) and took a step toward her. His smile was faint but earnest, glad to see a friend.

((Anya and Zeke -- Pumpkin Carving to a quiet corner near the storage room and bathrooms ))

Any other Raevan might have run right into their Guardian's outstretched arms at the first sign of their appearance when trouble was brewing but Anastacia was not one of those Raevans. Zeke knew this and had accepted it, but even knowing that full well didn't stop the feelings of wanting to cradle the spider queen in his arms and tell her it'd be all right from appearing all the same. He desperately did, and the feelings only grew as the queen reacted to the power that had been forced out by her own hands and the goings on around her.

"Anya," he said in that still gentle tone even as her cry made him wince, "I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong. It's okay, sweetheart, really." As he spoke he took another step closer to the upset Frei, watching her closely but keeping an ear out for the gaggle that was still amassed behind him. "You just need to calm down. Everything's gonna be all right."

The spider queen didn't believe that, but at the moment she wasn't sure what to believe other than that the fact she had to get out of this place and that Zeke should keep away from her. When the vet took a step toward her, she pressed back, moving sideways against the support beam until she had cleared it. It made her closer to the table and the gathering, but she was out of the corner all the same. It was both a good thing in a bad thing. Good because she was free of the small nook, but bad because now her back was exposed. If anyone dared get behind her, she'd be in for quite a shock. Her eyes were on Zeke, but the moment Eiry started to speak, they were off her man and on the splayed out Sigel. Seeing him so close to her made her retreat back toward the wall on the opposite side of the banister, wings flaring at him and the group so close at hand.

"St-Stay away!" Everything in her mind seemed to be short circuiting, drawing out the worst emotions possible to have and churning them together in a sickening mix in the virus Frei. Anger, fear, shock, pain...All except sadness seemed to be present and accounted for and it began to make Anastacia's head hurt and keep the idea of 'turn around and run' at bay. She wanted to cover her face and curl up in a ball, but upon attempting to do so she saw the ooze and again attempted to shake herself free of it and its hold. As before it merely fell and stretched and stuck to things - namely her this time - and it only caused the queen to get more upset. Lather, rinse, repeat. Soon she was flat against the wall again, heaving hard and feeling what would be the urge to vomit if she had a stomach. Instead, a low noise echoed in her throat - a mingled sound of exasperation, frustration, and that ever continuous hurt.

Zeke put himself between the group and his Frei again, forcing her to put her gaze wholly on him when she finally looked up from her hands. Eiry's words had not fallen on deaf ears and neither had those of Varun or Rivener; save for the fact they were not heard by Anya in her tizzy. He had no reply for the Leviathan, but he had a few words for the Scorpion. Sure things looked bad, but he shouldn't blame his spectral brother! It was an accident after all!

"It's okay Riv. It's not his fault; he was just participating in the holiday." He didn't look over his shoulder as he spoke. In his books no one was at fault really, it was just a prank that had gone awry by Anya being at the wrong place at the wrong time. She never liked being taken by surprise, but the appearance of a power had only exascerbated her reaction to the sudden appearance of the Wisp. "It's not your fault either." He looked pointedly at his Raevan, moving a step toward her again.

In response to his words and action, Anastacia lifted her head and shifted away from the colorless raver. She didn't trust him now, even with his hands up and his face showing his concern for her and her predicament. She didn't trust any of them. That's why she was here against the wall, with her back to it. One wrong step from anyone, even Zeke, and she wouldn't know what she'd do. She'd do something, that was for sure, and as the vet took that step she raised her wings and flicked them at him, showing him she could strike him but that he should also keep away from her. From behind her spindly defenses the spider queen's hands shook and oozed more and she clutched them to her chest as an automatic response to such things, ending up with gobs of liquid silk on her chitinous top.

She only seemed to realize what she had done after the fact and broke the gaze between herself and her man to look down at her hands. She pulled them away and the gobs stretched, making the Frei utter another cry of disgust and horror. She shook harder and her breaths became shallower, eyes darting about the room almost sightlessly before landing on Zeke. She suddenly held her hands out to him, imploring him with both the action and the shaky half-whisper that followed:

"What is this?"

The way she said it broke the vet's heart, but Zeke fought to keep the smile on his face in order for her to see that things would be okay. He was jarred definitely, but angry? Not at all. Besides, if she saw him freaked out or angry that wouldn't be a good thing or help the situation. When she held her hands out to him he dropped his own in order to reach out and take a close look, but when he did, she pulled her hands back. Zeke's brows raised in surprise and he shook his head at her, but not to say that he didn't know.

"Let me get you cleaned up and I'll explain." He sighed under his breath. He wasn't sure where such an explanation would lead, but he had a good feeling the truth behind her soul would come out at some point tonight. Hopefully after she had calmed down - piling such a large thing on her would not be a boon to either of them. Perhaps when they got home, but for now, first things were first. "You want to get cleaned up, don't you?"

When he said it, Alex's voice cropped up behind him and the vet's shoulders relaxed a little in gratitude. He could handle Anya, but he couldn't handle everything at once. He was only one man. Her appearance would be thanked later, but for now he didn't even turn around to give her a look to find out where she was in relation to him.

Anastacia, on the other hand, knew where Alex was and saw her making her motions. For the moment Zeke's posed question - as correct an assumption as it was - was ignored in favor of the spindly femme looking at the woman she had earlier dubbed 'garish' in those orange pants. What she said - 'fright without a little fun' - allowed for a little hot anger to present itself above the other whirling emotions she was feeling for half a moment. There was NOTHING fun about this. She was hurting, she was embarrassed, she had been affronted and...If she thought Anastacia was supposed to be having fun then she was dead wrong! A small glare affixed itself to the virus Raevan's face but then faded again upon the wings of another throb and Zeke's sudden movements to free everyone who had been webbed. She watched the vet pull and twist until finally he had freed himself and Anya from everything she had been attached to. Silk strings still hung from her fingers and continued to pool against her nails but she was free.

"There," Zeke dusted his hands off and gave Anastacia a small, renewed smile. "You aren't attached to anyone anymore, okay? Now c'mon, we'll go to the bathroom and get you cleaned up." Once she was cleaned and calmed he'd go from there, wherever it went. Until then he took another two steps which prompted another bout of shifting from Anastacia - the Frei edging along the wall far enough that she was just past the table Eiry was spread out upon. Zeke gave her an encouraging nod and continued to edge her along, looking over his shoulder once at the group behind him to check on where they were and what they were doing. No one would object, surely.

Anya didn't though she was wary of her guardian's steps all the while and kept her eyes on him. Still breathing hard as ever and still shaking, she gave herself a fright as she bumped against another support beam. Her entire being raised up into the air and flailed about, but it was enough to finally send her into a motion that wasn't one of the few she had been doing up until then. The bump sent her moving and with that jar, she took off toward the far corner on that side of the barn - near the storage room and the bathroom, which was good enough for Zeke. He took off after her, looking over his shoulder to give a relieved smile to the lot of them.

"Sorry about this, guys. Don't worry, I'll get her calmed down."

((Basil: Treat-Bobbing ))

Basil followed obediantly behind the large, demonic figure that turned them away from the commotion happening elsewhere. More complete in body, and more sound in reason. Despite their history together, there was little doubt that Basil might have followed Lazarus anywhere in the world, though, whether Lazarus felt the same was highly doubtful. He was not as sensitive to the implication that he could not take care of himself as Cordelia was, because he did not understand why it had to have such a negative stigma attached to it. If he was ill-prepared to make decisions, or thrust himself into a situation in which someone might be hurt, he'd rather have a merry band of attendants guiding him away by the hand than trust his own judgement. Steering him from the cross-fire. But then, he had not yet come to terms with the idea that one day, he might not have his Genie to do those things for him. That he would need to be on his own. Hopefully he would have time to cope with such circumstances, and not have the rug pulled out from under him.

He did not look behind him to see that Cordelia remained in tow. He trusted her to keep ahead of things, though he never didn't want for the comfort of her cold hand inside of his own. They approached a series of items and places. First the dunk tank, where Basil had encountered the spiky spider woman and all the troubles she seemed to foist upon him. Then other things. Tables with large orange fruit that Basil had never seen before. Being especially bright and conspicuous, Basil was eager to investigate them, but fortunately, his eye was not hard to turn. Lazarus ushered them towards a smaller, simpler version of the dunk tank. A wooden, water-filled basin. He didn't completely understand why he had chosen this of all places to bring them given the many other exciting and frivilous things available to them, but Basil would try just about anything once. He leaned over the rim of the tub, eyes large and fascinated to find what seemed to be treasure at the bottom. He skimmed his fingers across the surface of the water, finding it to be luke-warm and yielding. If Lazarus had not had the presence of mind to reach for the card and read the instructions off, Basil very likely would have already been elbow deep to collect as many of the baggies as he could. He had a quiet, uncomprehending look about him as he listened. They were meant to use their teeth? Well, for three semi-superntural beings blessed with irregular choppers, it sounded almost like a cake-walk. He considered however, that Cordelia would likely have a better chance at things than he would. A cobra's teeth were not meant for grabbing or for shredding, but for piercing. Delicate, the way the needle of a syringe is delicate.

He seemed almost to be shaking as he pulled himself away from the water, begging to be picked first as though Lazarus were choosing memebers of a dodgeball team. However, he quickly became aware of Cordelia as she drew away, terrified. He approached her lacking all sense of measure or tact. "It's just water, Delia." Clearly he'd forgotten the evil incident in which Cordelia had become compromised by the public fountain. The one in which she had intended Basil to bathe himself on one especially terrible evening.

((Wasa - Entrance))

Take her away… so far that it would have been unbearable for the Raeven to go. So Aki really was gone. Wasa fiddled with a bit of fringe on the shawl wrapped around her waist now that she no longer had the envelope to warp and turn in her hands. “Oh, well I… “ Her only excuse for being anywhere near the vineyard was now in Melisande’s fingers, but she supposed that if the Sigel had no plus one an invitation from her lips would be as good as one on paper.

The artist looked around at the costumes and decorations that illuminated the barn. It had been a long time since she had opened herself up to new inspirations. As much as she loved her home and her vast collection of found objects and ephemera, it was all stiflingly familiar. “That… would be nice.” It was a good thing her fashion sense bordered on the eclectic or she would felt woefully inadequate next to all the superb costuming. Dressed as she was, with her layered scarves, ropes of polished glass beads, and a painted mask pulled down over her eyes, she made a passable fortune teller type.

She moved to stand a little closer to the Raeven, committing herself to the idea of staying at least a little while “You must know nearly everyone here.” She smiled at Lulu, extending her hand now things were not so tense. “I’m pleased that you are pleased to know me. Lulu, was it? Is that with ‘oohs’ or ‘ohhs’ ?” She held her fingers in little symbols, first in the shape of a U and then an O. “Or both?” She kept her hands raised at either side of her head, one a circle and the other a cup.

((David Nao: Outside | Prajna: Underneath the table))

Prajna’s bright blues seemed to twinkle like the sea, the soft radiance of stringed pumpkin lights that had fallen and rolled underneath from the turmoil going on above reflected in its eyes. The redhead blinked hard, hoping to perhaps transport itself a bit further away from Cruz. Something about the situation, their intimate position made the Star feel… odd. There was a familiar tension growing in its chest and Prajna recognized it as something similar to the warm but powerful feeling it got when it was around Varun or the fluttering sensation it experienced with Vyn. When Prajna’s eyes met Cruz’s emerald gaze, Prajna felt so warm and it wondered how it would describe this feeling with Cruz. He made Prajna want to … explore him. Know more about him. Prajna was unaware of Cruz’s slow, cautious approach onto itself, too focused on the crocodile’s eyes. They were simply … so. Green.
Cruz raised Prajna’s hands between them, squeezing its fingers tigher but still with that gentleness Cruz just seemed to always carry with him. Prajna felt its eyelids close partially, as if it had suddenly grown tired and prepared itself for that final blow of head hitting pillow, the pinkness in its cheeks growing. The Star wanted so badly to know what Cruz’s lips felt like and, the moment when it felt a second clawed hand touch its skin, graze its cheek and then brush a curious thumb across the Star’s lower lip, Prajna closed its eyes in anticipation. Perhaps it looked silly, so prepared and anxious, but it remembered all the movies it had seen. The mood lighting. The deep blush staining the girl’s cheeks. The boy leaning in and…

The second Cruz’s thumb abandoned Prajna’s lips, the redhead’s brow knitted together in a sudden wave of passion, of longing, as if this was the climax of the Star’s night, as if this was all Prajna had wanted this entire evening as it felt Cruz’s lips brush against its own. His lips were as soft as Prajna expected and they ran across Prajna’s own like silk. Where had he learned to kiss so well? For a moment, Prajna waited for a bite. A n**. Something forceful and strong and unexpected, like all of Varun’s kisses or Rivener’s feasts but nothing like it came. It was Cruz after all. He seemed to be composed of nothing but gentleness and his kiss was simply that: gentle. Like Vyn’s but to an even greater level of tenderness. Unknowingly, Prajna had reached up to grip at the red cloth covering Cruz’s shoulders with its own free hand, as if begging for more, refusing to let this end but just as quickly as he had come, Cruz was already retreating, satisfied. Prajna’s face, on the other hand, hid none of its disappointment. The dinosaur looked sad and lonely suddenly, as if it were an abandoned puppy at Christmas, almost on the verge of tears again perhaps, but then its own personal craving took over and its androgynous features took on a completely new look: a more seductive, troublemaking kind of expression.

Especially after hearing the way Cruz purred the Star’s name, licking his lips so victoriously, like Hell Prajna was going to let him continue to wear such a smirk.

Inspired by its own obsessive, uncontrollable appetite for intimacy, something completely unrelated to its rune and odd survival necessities, Prajna swiftly moved over to its crimson cloaked companion and gripped both sides of his face in a flurry of passion, though, despite the roughness in its approach, when their lips made contact for a second time, Prajna seemed to have mimicked Cruz’s style of affection and had placed a more romantic, gentle kiss on his own lips. Though, unfortunately for Cruz… this gentle-natured Prajna did not last long. Something about Cruz was making Prajna’s lust insatiable tonight and Prajna’s arms quickly found themselves wrapped around the other’s neck, throwing the consideration Cruz has presented it with completely out the window. For any of Prajna’s lovers, it was a very obvious thing to note and something a new lover quickly learned: One kind kiss was in no way kind to the Star. It needed at least two… or three to survive.

But tonight… Something about Cruz. Prajna just could not get enough.

- - - - - - - -

David seemed to stare absentmindedly into the clear night skies, concentrating very hard on Ebony’s statements, but when he responded, it was made clear that he had paid very little to what the woman had said. Or perhaps he simply found it irrelevant to his thoughts.
“While I may seem pretty upset TONIGHT, but you. You are always pretty, do you know that?” he purred, smirking ear to ear.

Ebony was always such entertaining company and with the buzz of the alcohol still dulling his senses, he did not seem to pick up on the woman’s uncomfortable position. Had he been in his right state of mind, perhaps David would have reassured her that he was fine and charmed her away from the topic in a smoother manner, but for now, this was the best he could offer. He sat up suddenly and looked over at her, glancing her over, taking her entire costume in, in a non-lecherous way, before reaching out and tendering brushing some of her unusual crimson hair behind one of her ears, “Always very pretty. No lie.”

He seemed like a child who had just come home with the perfect report card. After tucking the crimson strays behind her ear, he tapped her nose playfully and laughed wholeheartedly, so unlike himself.