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Elf walked into the tent and saw the bucket of apples. Immediately she ran over and smiled at them and licked her lips. The poor human was thirsty and since there was just so much water, she took a drink.

Iambe was sitting on her shoulder, but when the human went for a drink, the already disgruntled dragon plopped into bucket and swam around happily. Water was he element, after all; and the water improved her mood.

Wiping her mouth off, Elf looked down at the bucket and dropped her head once more, but this time to grab an apple....

Elf lifted her head and dropped the apple in her hand. She clucked at the still swimming small dragon, who jumped onto the apple and then crawled back up the human's arm. "I wonder what this color means..." Elf smiled over at Iambe, who was back on her shoulder, and pulled a whisper gently.

"Ooh, Sari, come on! Bobbing for apples!" Taka squealed, darting ahead without waiting for her guardian to follow. Sarielle smiled and chuckled. Always up for anything active (so long as it was outside) and never afraid to get dirty, Taka was by far the girliest tomboy she knew.

Taka had already flung herself on hands and knees beside the metal tub, completely disregarding the damage to her clothes, but she hesitated. "Should we wait for Shayna, do you think?"

Taka rarely did anything without her sister, if she could help it; and since this was the big entertainment in town, Shayna was sure to show up eventually.

"I think it'll be alright if you go ahead," Sarielle responded. Sometimes she feared for Taka's independence.

"Mmkay," Taka acquiesced. "So, I just stick my face in there and bite one, right? Can't be that hard." She pulled back her long ponytail so it wouldn't dangle in the water, and darted her head forward after a choice red one.

...and missed. Unable to sink her teeth into it, the apple rolled away from her, and her entire face went plop! right into the water with an ominous gurgling sound.

The dark-haired Herald drew back sharply, splashing water all down her front; and both hands were pressed over her mouth and nose as she stared wide-eyed at Sarielle.

"I dink I god wader ub by dose."

Sarielle fought down the urge to laugh hysterically. Poor Taka did look pretty miserable. "I forgot you've never been to this sort of festival before," she said instead. "I guess I should have warned you." The pitch of her voice rose increasingly higher until she could no longer contain her guffaws.

"Dink so?" Taka muttered with a baleful stare before stalking outside. "I'b gunna go waid on sumbody."

Grinning hugely, Subo wound her way through the multitude of brightly colored tents, Aethelind trailing behind her, one hand loosly grasping her skirt, and the other flitting up occasionaly in an attempt to keep his hat from falling off. He wasnt teribly sure what this whole 'dressing up' thing was about, but he heard the mention of free candy, so he guessed it was alright.

"Ee! Come on 'Lind!Bobbing for apples!" Subo said, quickening her step slightly. Lind had to jog to keep up with Subo, casting wide-eyed glances at the tents and what was happening in them.

"Bobbing...?" he whispered to no one in general as the pair reached the tub.

"Yeaah, you put your head in the water and try to get an apple out using only your mouth." Subo explained, peering into the apple-infested water. "You wanna try it?"

Nodding warily, he approached the tub, getting a boost from Subo so he can actually get at the apples. Setting aside his hat, he soucted out his apple.

SPLASH

Emerging triumphantly from the water, Lind grinned around the apple stem that was dangling from between his teeth.

"Well..That's a way to do it" Subo said, mathing Lind's grin. Picking up his discarded hat and replacing it on his head, she took his hand and lead him back into the maze of tents. "Let's see what else there is to do here."

Eyes twinkling with delight, he followed Subo, munching on his apple.

Eamane was still looking around awed by the festive tents set up, that she had missed somehow for the past few months. The little elf brightened as she spotted a small line up beside a large metal tub. Apples! She giggled and grabbed Gael's hand and dragged the much taller girl along with her.

The blonde vampire rolled her eyes, "you're such a child sometimes!...are you sure you're the parent?" she tried to keep her own excitement out of her voice but failed utterly as she easily kept up with Eamane's small strides.

The elf simply stuck her tongue out and stood impaiently behind the last person in. She was worried that Gael was growing up to fast and this festval was meant to bring them together again. And with that semi-conscious thought she pushed the pretty vamp forward. "go on."

Gael giggled, very much like her mother and knelt over the water. She glared at the water and and chose an apple. Her fangs extanded slightly as she bent forward. They easily hooked into the tough skin and she quickly spat out the piece of fruit. "blech" Her nose wrinkled in disgust "human food!"

It was the last place he wanted to be. In fact, his first place was at home. Under the covers. But no, he was here - kinda made him want to kill a man, preferably Lucien, for even bringing up the subject while Alexei was around. If there was one thing he always fell prey to, it was that little hopeful glint that sparks briefly in the child's eyes before he hides it.

Ah, the woes of fatherhood.

Azruael picked his way through the tents, hands crammed into his pockets and eyes watching the little Herald wandering ahead curiously. Not wandering, more like being carried - or dragged. The child had insisted that they bring Nio, claiming he'd be lonely if they left him at home. Lonely his a**...that dog was as big as a house now and fully capable of taking care of himself.

"Just climb onto his back," the demon called after his son, amusement dwindling as the miniature horse galloped forward. Stupid dog.

"W-well, I will just after he, ahh!" Alexei ran head first into the dog's backside, causing Azruael bawl with laughter as he toppled over. The little Herald rubbed his nose and looked up, using Jumbo's hawk as leverage to pull himself to his feet. They had crashed before a green tent, a tent in which the Great Dane was now trying to enter. Giving in, Alexei was pulled beneath the open flaps, tripping over his own feet.

"What's this, papa'n?" he asked when the demon finally followed after them. The older man's once disinterested face became taut - oh no, pleeease no...

"What's bobbing for apples?"

"Just kill me now...it's nothing. Not fun. Leeet's go," he interjected hastily, though a bit late. The flaxen haired youth had already approached the tub, bright blue eyes alight with curiosity. Damnit.

Nio yipped as Alexei flagged down his father, who reluctantly dragged himself to his side. Wordlessly, he gave the child a boost, so he could look in the tub.

"What'd I do?"

"...Apple...mouth...no hands." Alexei squeaked and rolled up the sleeves of his sweater, a resolute look coming to his round face. Mouth. Apple. Got it! Nio gave an excited wiggle as the child lowered his head slowly, hesitantly, before dunking himself up to his shoulders into the tub. Water sloshed around violently from the force of the movement.

"Geez, take it easy kid!" Azruael grinned, securing his hold. Nio barked and placed his paws upon the edge of the tub, smacking the water with one giant one. The impact sent a small wave of water crashing over Alexei's submerged form, and also caused an apple to thwap him in the nose; he shot out of the water with a squeal, nearly dropping the other apple he had managed to grab with his teeth.

"Owf!" The fruit dropped from his mouth. Azruael laughed aloud again, before setting the boy down next to the tub, who was busy rubbing his nose.

"See? I told you it wasn't fun."

Shayna stood outside the tent, looking over the sign that read "Bobbing for Apples". Smiling, she stepped inside and set her eyes on a rather large tub of water, and apples.

She walked over and knelt infront of it, eyeing all the apples till she found the PERFECT red apple. "Your mine." Shayna smirked and waited for the perfect moment to go for the apple.

SPLASH!

Shayna's head splashed into the water and carefully lifted her head out of the water, the stem of the apple just barely in her teeth. She went to grab for the apple, but to Shayna's dismay, is fell once more into the water.

This made her a little angry that she got wet for nothing, but she went right back into that tub, and a few moments later came back up with a shiney red apple stuck firmly into her teeth.

As she pulled away from the tub, the pulled the apple from her mouth, placed it on her laop, and grabbed a nearby towel, and dried off her face, and hair. She bit through the apple, and headed to a nearby bathroom so finish drying her hair, and re apply her makeup.

It was with a vaguely desperate eye that Hessari caught sight of the festival and all the good things it stood for. This area was geographically secluded, and she had started to feel it was not a good place to have wandered near to. But a festival would certainly welcome anyone with money to spend!
Three small coins brushed her fingertips as she checked her pockets, not much, but enough to earn a smile. Hessari was not a good traveler, and her stomach twisted as it reminded her of its amazing lack of nourishment.
After wandering in all the wrong sections for food, she happened across a peculiar moss-green tent, luminous with the morning sun shining through its folds and beaded fringe. But far more important was the sign outside.

A moment later Hessari stood locked in a staring match with a bucket full of what was undoubtedly very cold water. It wasn't responding very well to her mental threats, simply washing over its shining apples with every breath of wind it caught.
She glared at it, and it smiled and looked appetizing. She never stood a chance.

The traveler came up sputtering, an apple dangling between her teeth. She dropped it into a waiting hand and hastily dried it off before taking an un-ladylike bite and ducking out the door. Soaked, but relatively warm in the humid weather, Hess left the tent with a triumphant smirk on her face.