The Robinson Park Spooktacular: Games in the Garden

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

[This thread is the fast thread for The Robinson Park Spooktacular. All regular rules regarding skipping and such are suspended for this thread - instead post whenever you're ready to. Remember! Any one character may only be in one of the three Spooktacular threads at any given time, though they may leave one area and join another.]

Though this garden area is normally quite drab this time of year - it reaches its peak in spring. But the trees above have been covered with lanterns throughout the whole area, providing light as well as beauty.

The many wide paths have been populated by various food and activity stations, all of the highest quality. They include:

Face Painting - A number of local artists are offering their services as face painters, each able to offer whatever the guests desire so long as the guest is willing to sit still long enough for their intricate work to be completed.

Food Servers - One is handing out apples coated in the finest caramel you've ever tasted, another has pigs in a blanket that have been shaped to resemble fingers, while another has a fake cauldron full of full sized (not fun sized!) candies, one has pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and another has cotton candy in various 'spooky' colors.

Photo Stop - Grab a friend and force them to get their picture taken with you against a haunted house backdrop. The resulting photo will be sent to you via email so that you can post it on Facebook and brag to your friends about how you were here.

Apple Cider Bar - The server here as sparkling apple cider, though if you look like you might be under 25 you'd better have ID or he won't let you anywhere near the hard stuff.

Fortune Teller - A professional tarot card reader is offering her services to the guests on a first come, first served basis.

Gourmet S'mores - Here the guests can assemble s'mores, using the candles on the table to cook the marshmallows. But though it does offer regular marshmallows, milk chocolate, and gram crackers, it also offers flavored marshmallows, other kinds of chocolates including mint chocolates, peanut butter candy, thin fruit slices, and various kinds of cookies to substitute and supplement the basic recipe.

Apple Bobbing - Do you possess the rare talent of being able to bite into a floating apple? Here is your chance to finally be able to impress someone! And if you don't, you can simply grab an apple with your hand and move on.

[Nina Stenet]

The trip to the park is a quick one, or at least it feels that way whether it was or not because it lasted about as long as it took for Nina to finish fawning over Zinda's costume and then speculate with her about what the party would be like. The advertisement didn't reveal much, though what it did reveal indicated that it would be better quality affair than some neighborhood Halloween party. Or at least it ought to be with that kind of cover charge - which she is very quick to offer to pay for Zinda unless the woman insists on paying for herself.

Once they're in it doesn't take long for Nina to scan over their options for where to be and decide which sector of the party she wanted to be in. The pavilion is perhaps too much her usual style - she's here to do something different and have fun. But the loud music in the field is perhaps a bit too much outside of her usual comfort zone. No, it's the garden that attracts her attention - it reminds her of a carnival, and that's in keeping with her mood. Pausing to open her parasol, which isn't necessary since the sun is setting and there's no rain but adds another authentic touch to her geisha costume, she quickly gets into character and very politely asks, "Would it please you to join me in some of these activities, Cleopatra? And if so, would it please you to choose first?"

[Deleted]

Whether it was work or pleasure, Zinda Blake was a woman that always took everything she did seriously, and this party would be no exception. She was going along riding in a very fancy looking hot rod dressed like royalty, but she was determined to have the time of her life...and lots of alcohol, naturally. Since the time she popped into the 21st century until now, Zinda's circumstances had taken an abrupt 180° turn for the better. Not only was she in tight with Blackhawk Enterprises already, she also had enough cash too begin keeping her promises to Nina about paying her back. She was at least working on it and had gotten off to a decent start if she did say so herself.

She and Nina both put fjord effort into their outfits for the evening but the ancient Egyptian sandals were already starting to rub Zinda's feet the wrong way. Their outfits were both equally charming and it brought a girlish giggle from Zinda at how well her friend was playing the part. The quiet pavilion seemed too tame for Zinda's liking as well, and the music pavilion? Never in her life could she remember any noise threaten to give her such an ear-splitting headache, and this came from a woman that was used to hearing bombs go off.

Mother of pearl, do you seriously call that noise music? Whatever happened to the Andrew Sisters or Glenn Miller? She made a face before Nina the geisha picked the pavilion destination.By royal edict if your majesty the queen, it has been decided that the first order of business is the apple cider followed perhaps by the photo booth. After that you may choose as you wish. So it s written, so let it come to pass. She decided, falling into character as best as she could. She was definitely thirsty.

[Nina Stenet]

Though she knows that Zinda's exclamation about the music was rhetorical, Nina answers it anyway. "Millennials," she replies, referring to the current generation of young adults and teenagers that form the bulk of those gathered in the field. Apparently the party isn't fun if the music doesn't make you deaf now.

Trying as hard as she can to not break character, Nina simply can't help but burst out laughing at Zinda's rendition of Cleopatra. But as soon as she can contain herself, she stops and instead puts on a properly demure expression, nodding her silent assent to the proposed course of action. As they walk over to the apple cider bar, she can't help but watch the people milling around, admiring those with the best costumes - a lot of people clearly put a lot of work into their outfits.

In fact, one man who decided to come dressed as the Riddler viewed out of the corner of her eye causes her to startle and turn toward him so suddenly that she nearly hits Zinda's head with her parasol. But when looking at him directly it's obvious - Edward isn't that fat. Quickly calming herself, and noting that Hope has stepped forward with concern, she turns to continue toward the apple cider and sounds a little embarrassed as she says, "Sorry, it's nothing..." Though she has no idea whether or not Edward would be here, she does know that it's highly unlikely that he knows that she'd be here. He'd have to have been spying on her for that, and that seems unlikely to her. Still, she finds herself slightly less bothered by Hope's presence for several moments. Slightly.

[Deleted]

What?Zinda frowned slightly at Nina's eruption of laughter. No, really, you can stop anytime now. Zinda had actually impressed herself with how well she had pulled off this costume and tried too slip into the role. And apparently she was the only next who thought so. Oh, who was she kidding. She knew her rendition of the queen of the Nile stunk, she couldn't really argue and after 30 seconds, she was laughing alongside Nina. Had to be something in the air around here.

She too was admiring the handiwork that had gone into the other costumes. She was also getting hungry from the aromas continuing to float past her nose. She had just turned back to look at her friend and suggest a pass through the line at the food table when she was forced to duck too avoid an incoming parasol attack.Doesn't exactly strike me as nothing. Honey, you look like you've just seen a ghost. Are you alright, Nina? She asked, casting a glance at Hope, to the guy n Green, then back to Nina before whispering.If that guy's bothering you, I can plug him... then laughed a little at her own joke. She was if course kidding...unless Nina went for it

[Nina Stenet]

"Sorry!" Nina instantly apologizes for laughing, but she simply can't help it. It's not that Zinda's rendition of Cleopatra was so horrible, it's that seeing the other woman acting so unlike herself is hilarious. That's one of the fun parts of wearing a costume, though.

The fact that she has an ex who is infamous enough to have people dress up on him during this holiday is definitely one of the least fun parts of this, though. But she's eager enough to brush it off. "It's the white face paint, and there is a ghost over there," she says, waving a hand in the direction of someone who had more bedsheets than creativity and attempting to make light of the situation. "I'm fine," she adds, just in case anyone needs any additional reassurance. Well, except for her heart is beating too fast now, but it'll calm down and aren't you supposed to get scared during this holiday?

But it's a good sign that she's at least relaxed enough to laugh at Zinda's whispered question. "I think that the death penalty is a little extreme for picking a costume I'd rather not see again," she replies back, encouraging their little group to get back on track by heading toward the apple cider stand herself. It's not much further in and when she gets there she picks from the cups in the non-alcoholic group since she's not one to drink very much or very often, even socially, though she wouldn't really care either way if Zinda did.

Hope opts for a glass herself, also going for the non-alcoholic stuff, but only because unlike the other two she's technically at work right now. Drinking it requires her to pull down the mask that covers the lower part of her face, but that's hardly a problem. Neither is continuing to scan the crowd while she does so.

[Deleted]

You know what? It's alright. zinda grinned after a couple seconds. We're here to arty, there's lots of booze, we're here to have fun, there's lots of booze, and it's good to see you really having fun!Have I mentioned there seems to to be alot of booze? She giggled softly.

When Nina gestured the direction of Mr. bedsheet, Zinda was quick to catch on and shared a laugh at the joke...and then it was Zinda's turn to tense up. Looking around at the guests in their assortment if costumes, she blinked and stood still for a moment, staring at the attendee that came dressed in some sort of shark costume, which immediately stirred up a few bitter if the past before she reminded herself it was simply a costume. Suit yourself. Zinda answered jokingly before Nina turned in the directing if the non-alcoholic cider. For a two-fisted, bar fight Lovin drinker like herself though, the leaded cider was irresistible. With a broad grin, she once more fell into character and clapped her hands at the geisha. Your queen desires a cup of booze! Her voice boomed as she laughed uncontrollably, curious to see if anyone would comply with her royal wishes. This night had the definite potential for being a hell raising blast

[Nina Stenet]

This time Nina's able to limit her reaction to Zinda's Cleopatra rendition to a quick, amused grin. But she quickly composes herself, forcing her expression into the demure, serene calm expected of a geisha. "I'm sorry, my queen, but it appears that there is a shortage of servants at this gathering. This is most unfortunate! I'm afraid that you may have to serve yourself. Though if that would prove too unbecoming of such a glorious queen, perhaps I can attempt to find you a suitable manservant? Either way, I do apologize for inviting you to what is obviously such a poorly planned event. I assure you that I would not have done so if I had known that this would be the outcome," she says quickly and apologetically, allowing the words to flow from her lips smoothly - carefully painting a picture of a woman who, in spite of her best intentions, managed to put her obviously very important companion into an unpleasant and unwarranted situation and therefore is beside herself with the stress and remorse of the circumstance.

Something that Nina manages to do without breaking character herself. Which is a bit of a feat, given just how hard it is not to be overwhelmed by a fit of giggles at her own acting. Especially when she catches Hope giving a slight roll of her eyes at both of their performances. If anything, the stoic bodyguard's refusal to be amused just makes the situation funnier. Sometimes you just have to relax and let yourself enjoy things. In fact, Nina would have gladly lept to Zinda's command, except it wouldn't have been in character - geishas are entertainers for the upper classes, not servants, so fetching booze is not in her job description.