Logfile from Brass&Steel.

There are a few partygoers wandering about, mostly friends of Zach or
Harriet, dressed in costume and chatting happily with one another.
Harriet, herself, is in the tent, fiddling around with the controls for
the music. From semi-hidden speakers, the soundtrack to 'The Night Before
Halloween' is playing.

Zach is hovering around the tables, making sure that there is enough of
all kinds of foods and nibblets. (And there is. There's food enough to
feed a couple of regiments, and it all looks home cooked.) Also, he keeps
trying to convince the guests to taste this, that and the other.

Harriet emerges from the tent, the playlist having been arranged to her
liking, and waves at friends as she dodges her way through the grass,
over to Zach. She eyes the lines of food. "Zach, love...how many people
did you think we were inviting, you know?" She sounds amused, and sneaks
out to steal a cracker with some sort of paste on it.

Bazil walks towards the field, using his staff as a walking stick. As he
notices the tent, he smiles and calls out, "Good evening!"
	A tall and well-built man with not-quite-tanned, somewhat
weatherbeaten skin. Although underneath his halloween costume, he appears
middle-aged, he's managed to do some work with hair whiteners, a rather
good false beard, and perhaps a touch of make-up here and there to make
himself look older than he is. His hair has also been deliberately made
slightly wilder than usual under his tall grey hat, framing his twinkling
green eyes. He has an open and smiling expression on his face, with a
strong glint behind the twinkle in his eyes showing inner fortitude.
	He is dressed in flowing grey robes, otherwise undadorned save
for pockets and a scabbard and baldric holding up an obviously artistic
sword. He is carrying in one thick, callused hand (the one with a large
ring on it) a long and gnarled wooden staff with a quartz crystal
carefully set on the top. Below, his sturdy boots are occasionally
visible as his robe swirls with him as he walks.

Zach grins slightly sheepishly at Harriet. "Well, I wasn't entirely sure.
And then I thought, what if some of them bring friends, or we get
surprise guests and whatnot. it would be total disaster if we didn't have
enough food, so I made a little extra. Whatever we don't eat, we can
bring to the shelter." He looks up, and spots a...dude in a robe! "Hello!
Oh! It's Bazil!"

You say, "No wait! It's Gandalf!"

Harriet nods, and also turns. She beams. "Bazil! Er, Gandalf, I mean,"
she corrects hastily, and heads over to give the old wizard a big hug.
"So glad you could make it, you know? And I adore your costume!"

Bazil chuckles quietly and hugs Harriet back firmly, careful of his
staff. He smiles brightly and nods. "One wizard to another, eh, Ms.
Potter?" he asks her with a gentle tummy-poke.

Zach straightens up and tries to look all wholesome and pompous, then
strides over to greet the wizard. "Good evening, mister Gandalf. Welcome
to the party!" he proclaims and offers a polite handshake. While trying
not to get another fit of the giggles.

Harriet makes a strangled giggle at the tummy-poke. "Indeed! It wasn't
/exactly/ my idea, you know, but it fits pretty well, as long as I don't
whack people with the broom, you know?" She eyes Polite!Zach, and stage
whispers, "I think it's going to his head..."

Bazil quirks an eyebrow and shakes Zach's hand. "I would have thought
Gambit more suitable," he says with a wry grin.

Zach harrumphs and tries to look politely horrified. "Absolutely not! For
starters I do not talk with a phoney French accent, and besides, I have
certain /standards/!" Well, he tries his best, but the corners of his
mouth twitch treacherously.

Zach harrumphs and tries to look politely horrified. "Absolutely not! For
starters I do not talk with a phoney French accent, and besides, I have
certain /standards/!" Well, he tries his best, but the corners of his
mouth twitch treacherously.

Harriet giggles, and slings an arm around her faux-pokerspine's waist.
"And a good thing, too. Otherwise, I'd have to beat ze ladies off of him
with a stick, you know?" She winks, then dances away from Zach, doing an
excited twirl on the grass.

Bazil smirks. "But you have to admit, he's certainly more ... *cough*
creative than /Cyclops/, who has a certain... Sword-like.. cast to him,
hmm?" he asks and auwwwws at Harriet-and-Zach cuteness.

Zach smiles and fondly watches Harriet twirl. Then he turns his focus
back on Bazil, "But I like Cyclops. He sticks to his beliefs, and his
love, even if the others make fun of him and ridicule him. It kinda hits
home with me, see?" Lowering his voice, he adds, "And try not to mention
any warstuff. None of our guests so far are in the know."

"And, of course, this means Zach gets to wear the nifty red-tinted
shades," Harriet says with a grin. She also nods along to his last
statement. "Yup. And this is going to be a happy, peaceable party, even
if I have to hit people, you know?"

Bazil grins at Harriet and nods. "Curse them, you mean," he says in
agreement. "Where's your wand, anyway?" He smiles at the MalaID, and bows
his acquiescence on the subject.

Zach raises a finger in the universal 'oh, I just remembered' gesture.
"Excuse me for two seconds. I must go get something..." And he jogs over
to the tent, disappears for a moment, then returns with something hidden
behind his back. Smiling to Harriet, he presents her with a baseball bat.
Made out of foam rubber. "My Lady, this is the ClueBat. I hereby give you
control over it, with hopes that you will not have to use this fearsome
and dangerous implement of castigation."

Harriet eyes that bat, and takes it with shining eyes. "Oh, coooooool,"
she breathes. "I have a ClueBat, you know? Neat!" She jumps up and down,
and makes a few preliminary swings. "I'd have expected a salad bowl, but
this works just as well...and the wand's in the tent. Too much trouble to
keep up with."

Bazil blinks. And blinks again. He looks from Harriet, to the ClueBat, to
Zach, and back to the Bat. Then he leans heavily on his staff and begins
to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh. His eyes twinkle with amazement
and he clutches his stomach as he continues to laugh.

Zach grins at Harriet in a fashion more suited to Wolverine than to
pokerspined ol' Slim. And then he can't help himself, but laughs along
with Bazil, because it's bloody contagious, laughter like that is. A
harem lady and a mummy chortle too, when they see the little scene.

Harriet pouts at the two, and reaches out with the ClueBat to gently tap
each of them on the head, unless they duck or something. "And just what
are you two laughing at, hmmm?" Her eyes twinkle merrily.

Bazil inhales deeply, then pokes Harriet back in the tummy for the
cluebatting. He turns back to Zach and smiles. "So, what food is
available, my friend?" he asks, eyes still twinkling merrily.

"Well, I was laughing along with Greybeard here, he's contagious!" Zach
pleads in defense. He calls over to the mummy and the veiled one to check
that they have all they need, and gets affirmative responses. "Food?
Well, there's... Rather a lot, actually. Five different kinds of spicy
meatballs onna stick, smoked salmon, scrampled eggs, chicken both plain
and marinated (my own recipe with curry, chili, basil and saffron),
filled peppers, red and green chillis filled with cheese, salads of
various kinds, bleeding Halloween rasin buns, punch with eyeballs in
it..." He gestures over to the tables.

<OOC> Zach has basically run amok with cooking, and the tables are LADEN.
andhe got a CD 5 on the cooking thing. :)

Bazil does not explain himself. He does, however, prudently withdraw for
the consumption of food. "Ah, excellent. Earlier I had to take some kids
and parents around- a Safe Halloween thing- I'll have to pick them up
again after the party- but I'll be back if it's still going on, don't
worry- and I've worked up a *powerful* hunger."

Zach points out some of the more creative cookies shaped like ghosties
and ghoulies and longleggity beasties. "Hey, if you're picking up people,
you can always broing some grub with you. I baked a ton of cookies and
stuff..."

Harriet nods. "He's right," she says, snagging a meatball stick for
herself. "This is an entirely kid-friendly party, you know? We've got
some alcohol, but it's in the tent."

Bazil shakes his head. "Not bringing them with; they have a pre-fixed
schedule. But, oooh, cookies." Mmm. Literal grub, in some cases. ;) He
snags quite a few of the longleggities, and heads over towards the
chilis. MMMmm. Spicey!

Zach smiles and reaches out to pet Harriet on her shoulder. "See, I told
you it's a good idea to have enough food!" he explaims triumphantly. Even
though Bazil's foraging doesn't make much of an impression on the tables.

Harriet laughs. "I never said that it wasn't. I just wondered if you'd
planned to invite an entire Army, you know? it's the only way that you
/wouldn't/ have enough food..." she falls silent to nibble on her snack,
then beams, "This is wonderful!"

A Legolas comes bounding over to "Gandalf", and compliments him with the
cool costume. "Dude, that staff is just awesome! Did you make it
yourself?" The voice betrays "Legolas" as female.

Bazil smiles politely at Legolas and shakes his head. "Thank you very
much, sir Elf," he says politely. "I'm afraid not, however; my talents,"
he says with a twinkling of the eye and the depressing of a carefully
hidden button- (The wiring is disguised to look like carvings the quartz
crystal is suddenly lit- "Lie elsewhere, indeed."

Zach smiles happily at Harriet, and snags a stuffed pepper for himself.
"It is, and so far people seem to be having fun. Pam has zoomed in on
Gandalf, I see..." he murmurs, and points over at Legolas and the old
wizard.

Harriet pauses in her nibbling to oooh, at the lighted staff. A couple of
the other, nearby partygoers do, as well. She giggles and nods to Zach.
"Hey, genres have to go together, you know?"

Legolas smiles from ear to ear when the crystal lights up. "Woah, that is
so neat!" She takes a sip of her drink, eyes shining.

Bazil picks up some more of the chilis, eating them as though they were
mild sandwiches. He smiles kindly at the (younger? Same age?) woman. "I
take it you're a fan of the series, then?" he asks.

Zach grins and nods. "I suppose they do, yeah. I'm not seeing any other
superheroes here, yet. Feeling kinds lonely, here. There's a couple of
witches over there, but they don't look like Hogwarts folks to me.."

Harriet awws, and hugs. "I think Jakob was planning to come as Dr.
Strange. That's the same Universe, even if he's not a superhero, kinda,
you know?" She wrinkles her nose playfully up at him, then moves away to
try and sneak behind Bazil.

Legolas nodnods cheerily. "I love it! I've read the books something like
fifteen times, or so. I've lost count. And the movie is so much better
than I ould have ever imagined." Agewise this person seems pretty young.
Early twenties probably. "How about yourself?"

Bazil feels old, again, for more reasons than one. He chuckles, though,
highly amused. "Oh yes. I think I got my first copy... Mmm, very early
on. I've enjoyed it for a number of reasons over the years; the themes
appeal to me greatly."

Zach blinks. "I've never heard of Doc Strange... But then I haven't
really read that many of the comics. I'm kinds working off the movie
here. I'll just have to have you point things out and explain them to me,
eh?"

Safely behind Bazil, Harriet does a little miming of the Balrog. A small
and rather cuddly Balrog. Still hunched in a 'threatening' position, she
grins to Zach. "I've only read a few, myself. My brother was a big fan,
though, you know?"

Legolas beams and gestures with her drink. "It's such a powerful story on
so many levels. The first few times I read the books, I read a different
story each time. On purpose. First it was the fairytale like adventure,
and then it was the story of good and evil and then it was the story of
friendships and then about sacrifice and gain and loss, and so on." She
giggles self-consciously. "I'm such a geek, but... That world just really
got under my skin, and has stayed there ever since."

Bazil chuckles and nods to Legolas. "I am especially fond of the growth
of the Hobbits. Tolkein deliberately - and literally! -made them the
"little guy", but on their own or with others- especially when working
with others- they proved themselves strong. It's a wonderful metaphor,
although of course, Dr. Tolkein himself would spin in his grave if he
thought we made an analogy out of it."

"I didn't know that, no. You've gotta tell me about him some time, love."
Zach does his best to not laugh out loud at the mini-Balrog with robe and
bromstick and ClueBat.

Harriet bounces in a mock-threatening matter towards Bazil's back, waving
the ClueBat. If Legolas looks in her direction, she winks. Her voice,
though is perfectly normal. "Absolutely. I should take you home to see my
family sometime, you know? Haven't been back there in a while."

Legolas laughs and nods. "Oh absolutely! He wanted to tell a story, not
to be some kind of modern-day Super Aesop. The fact that people keep
drawing parallells and finding likenesses to this, that and the other
just proves what a great storyteller the old man was." Legolas flicks her
eyes at Harriet and then back at Ba...Gandalf.

Bazil quirks an eyebrow, but serenely ignores the Harriet-Balrog. Really.
Iron powers of self-concentration. well, that, and a sense of timing.
Once Harriet's in a particularly awkward threatening pose- or the closest
she comes, he whirls around and goes *BOO!* at her. ;)

Zach chews down a few grapes, looking blissful. "Meeting the in-laws, eh?
Do you think they'll approve of me, or will I be glared at and tested by
the Davis men?" He bursts out in a laugh, as Bazil counterattacks.

Harriet yelps, taken by surprise, and retreats in a most unBalrogish
fashion...namely by leaping backward, tripping and falling on her butt.
She blinks up at Bazil with an almost kittenish look of utter surprise.

Legolas also bursts out in a giggle at Harriet's unfortunate fate.

Bazil nods politely to Pam/Legolas, then leans on his staff with a
laughing smile, and extends his long arm out for Harriet. "Need a hand
up?" he asks politely, all calm save the smile- and the twinkling eyes.

Harriet sticks her tongue out at Bazil, then accepts his hand up. "That's
not fair! I am the great and powerful Balrog! You're not supposed to say
boo to the great and powerful Balrog, you know?"

Zach chortles, and shakes his head. "And here I was convinced that you
were a robed little proto-wizard. But no, you're a Balrog!
So...uh..where's your whip?"

Legolas grins! "Yeah, Balrog. Where's your whip?"

Bazil hrmphs. "Ah, but I am the wielder of the Sacred Flame of Arnor. The
dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!" He winks. "And, you know
your Defense Against the Dark Arts class? You shall not pass!"

Harriet giggles. "I fear that I gave my whip to a rather nice-looking
Catwoman, you know?" She looks around, but the feline in question seems
to have dissappeared. Then she gasps at Bazil, and looks hurt. "But I've
been studying and everything! Curse you, Gandalf!" She shakes the
cluebat.

Zach wanders over to a cowboy and a pirate, who just ehtered the
partyzone. He greets them with a find welcome and a drink each, gesturing
around the place to point out the hightlights. Such as the cuddlebags,
the dance area, the food and the food and the tent.

Legolas drains her drink, and watches the banter with much amusement.

Bazil shakes his staff at Harriet. "You shall not pass! You did horribly
on the test!" He turns and gives Legolas a wink, then seizes Harriet by
the cluebat, and drags her to her feet. "There, all right."

Harriet is dragged upright. "Wheee! And I hate tests. They're
all...testy, you know? People shouldn't be testy, because then bad things
happen." She nods, solemnly. "I'll do better on the practical. ClueBat
101!"

Zach drags the two newly arrived guests over to introduce them to the
harem-lady and the mummy. Thoughtfully, he snatches up a bowl of veggies
and some dip as they pass the food area. The mummy struggles a bit with
this, due to overy well bandaged hands, but the pirate is a gentlerogue,
and assists.

Legolas admires the cluebat, and giggles again. "Man, you guys are so
much fun. Have you known each other long? The way you keep playing off of
each other, it's just great!"

Bazil smiles at Legolas, and chortles a bit at Harriet's practice for her
practical. "Mmm? Not too long; I've only been in town a few months," he
tells Legolas. He extends a hand. "Sometimes, they call me Gandalf the
Grey," he says by way of introduction, continuing, "But mostly, Bazil
Peterson."

Harriet looks solemnly at Legolas. "Nah. It's just the secret government
experiments that make us part of the universal hive mind, you know? And
I'm Harriet. You're one of Zach's friends, right?"

Zach laughs at something the cowboy says, and shakes a finger at him.
Again getting into character, he straightens up and sticks his nose up as
he retorts with something. The group soon dissolve in snickers, and the
ice seems to be utterly broken.

Legolas shakes Bazil's hand with a smile, then offers her hand to
Harriet. "Noce to meetcha, Bazil. And Harriet! I'm Pam Evans, I wait
tables at Kathy's, near downtown KCK. I'm saving up funds to try getting
into theater school," she adds a tad shyly.

Bazil shakes Legolas' hand firmly and nods with a smile. "Excellent. I
wish you the best of luck. I think I've been in Kathy's a time or two,
and I'll look you up then."

Harriet beams. "Oooh, neat," she says, and nods approvingly at the two
introducing themselves. She's standing near Bazil (who is Gandalf) and a
female Legolas, while Zach is doing the meet-and-greet with a mummy and a
pirate. The party's in full swing, and seems to be small, but with people
enjoying themselves thoroughly.

Goldie approaches the party a little cautiously, carrying a heavy looking
kit bag which is -quite- out oc character for whom she seems to be trying
to portray. As a few people recogise her, and greet her by the name of
her costume, she mock snarls something about Longbottom and potion
accidents...

Zach hands the veggies and the dip over to the cowboy, and leaves the
foursome to chat. Making his way towards another small clump of people,
he turns his head as he hears the name of Draco. A big grin lights up,
and he makes a beeline for the young wizard. "Hey, Malfoy! How good of
you to come! You made it here allright, I see?"

Goldie grins for a moment then hides the expression none too well, taking
on a look of disgust, "I 'made it' here alright. I am a -Malfory- and we
do not get lost, even when using muggle transportation." She growled,
"And I will not even mention how glad I will be when the mandrakes mature
and I ca be returned to normal. Is -Potter- around? I have his... I mean
-her- other items."

Bazil quirks an eyebrow and groans. "I think two people have been reading
bad net fanfic," he says, shaking the glowing crystal on his staff at the
both of you.

Goldie attempts to hold back a giggle at that disgusted look, managing to
half stifle it but no more.

Harriet looks around, and also spots Goldie. Without any attempt to stay
in character at all, she bounds towards 'Draco'. "Hey! You made it!
Wonderful, you know? You look great...I should slip Neville a twenty or
something..."

Zach smiles and tries to look pompous again. "Harriet is here, yes. Let
me take you to her," he says, and then throws his hands up as said
Harriet comes hopping over. "...or not, as it may be," he chuckles.

Goldie smiles at Harriet, saying in an amused tone much in contrast to
the words she speaks, "You will -pay- for that, Potter. Yes, you will
pay..." She trails off then murmurs, "Now if you could have paid Neville
to spike the punch with this it would have been more interesting."

Bazil grumbles, Significantly, but he holds a smile. "I don't want to
know. I just don't want to know." He rolls his eyes, and gives both
Harriet and Goldie another glare, still smiling, before giving up and
having more stuffed chilis.

AutoJudge:  Bazil rolls: 2 + 6 = 8 . Check die: 4

AutoJudge:  Bazil rolls: 6 + 5 = 11 . Check die: 6

Harriet sticks her tongue out at Bazil. "What? You wouldn't like being
Gandalfia? I think it'd be cute, you know?" She giggles, then eyes the
Box O Stuff. "Need help getting that to a safe place? I take it that's
the...extras?"

<OOC> Bazil says, "Gleep. Thankfully, that was just a Role-Check, and not
an actual Resonance! @_0"

<OOC> Bazil says, "Zach, Harriet? Can I get your opinions on Goldie
here?"

Zach peers curiously at the box, and nibbles on a small meatball. "Do you
need help luggin that thing over to the tent, Go...Draco?" Goldie loosk
up, meeting Harriet's eyes as a glint of amusement gleams in her own,
"Actually, if you have somewhere -private- for a couple of minutes half
this stuff can get put on. You do remember what I said about a second
costume?" She arches an eyebrow knowingly.

Long distance to Bazil: Zach regards Goldie in a big brotherly/fatherly
kind of way. He loves her dearly, and is deeply impressed with her as
well as worried and hopeful. He admired her brains and her inner
strength. Can you say 'pet project'? :P

Goldie shifts the bag from one hand to the other, "It's fine Zach, it's
just volume not weight. Most of it is empty space."

Harriet blushes faintly at the mention of a second costume, although it
might get lost in the general excitement from being at a party! "Oh, yes.
We can shoo people out of the tent for a few...they won't mind, it's not
that cold yet, you know?"

Zach looks slightly disappointed. "You sure there's nothing I can help
you with? Any of those extra bits such that need a pair of extra hands
to...attach them?" he asks hopefully, while trying to look pokerspined.
Needless to say, he fails.

Bazil smiles a bit and watches the trio interact. He melts back into the
crowd again, talking, eating, and generally enjoying himself, giving
Harriet and Goldie a chance to get their new costumes? o.o

Goldie grins, both at Harriet's blush and Zach's question, "I am sure we
will be fine, muggle, although if Potter here might appreciate an
audience...?" She trails off, tilting her head with a faint blush on her
own face as though she can't quite believe she said that.

<OOC> Zach watches Harriet go beet red.

Harriet coughs, and shakes her head. "No audience. /I/ haven't even seen
what you've cooked up, yet. I want to know if I'm going to have to hide
again, you know?" She winks at Goldie.

Goldie nods gravely, showing admirable control as her blush fades, "I do
have a few options available for you, just in case I have been a touch
too... enthusastic in my selections."

Zach makes a number of looking disappointed and dejected, but then breaks
into a grin. "Harriet, I'll want to have a peek at some point, you know?"
he teases. "Go get yer costumes on, ladies," he tells them and starts to
wander off to mingle!

Bazil laughs a little as he watches them wander off. He makes a few
friends, chats some folks up, and continues to work his way through the
party in a distinctly fish-through-water sort of style

Harriet bahs, and waves at Zach. "You'll see with everyone else, you
know?" Then she starts leading Goldie to the tent, and goes about the
purpose of chasing everyone else out. Nicely, of course.

Zach drifts over towards Bazil, and eventually ends up next to him. "So,
how's business going, Baz? Things running smoothly?"

The door to the temple...I mean, the flap to the tent swings shut.

Steven has arrived.

A rail-thin figure of average height and moderately pale complexion. He
looks to be late twenties/early thirties, maybe a few years out of
college and not yet tied down with commitments. Dark hair sprouts from
his head like a fashionable patch of weeds; grunge gone urban hip. His
features are warm and inviting, equal parts casual friendliness and a
subtle sense of sexuality. Smiles come to him easily and with welcomed
frequency. His eyes are colored somewhere between light hazel and a deep
oak shade depending upon the lighting. Although skinny his physique looks
to be in good condition thanks to an active lifestyle and his body
language comes off as passive yet accessible. He typically shows good
taste in his wardrobe.
	Since it's Halloween Steven is dressed in a particularly ghoulish
costume. A combination of good wardrobe and even better makeup creates
the image of a fashion-conscious walking corpse. He wears an expensive
single-breasted tuxedo in a deep midnight black color, with a
rose-colored handkerchief tucked in the jacket pocket to give it a bright
dash. What flesh you can glimpse is given a freshly-dead pale grey hue.
The lines on his face are accentuated, sharply defining the features of
his skull. Black paint covers his eye sockets and nose cartilage.

Bazil nods to Zach. "So far, so good. I take it Harriet and Goldie have
something planned?" he asks politely. Once the answer is given, he'll
drift back into the crowd.

The party is in full swing, with people in costumes milling around and
talking, and eating at the groaning tables of all sorts of food. Harriet
isn't anywhere to be found, at the moment, unless she's behind one of the
masks, or in that closed tent.

Zach is standing with Bazil, chatting and contemplating the big bowl of
punch. "Yeah, the HP costumes were Goldie's idea, and there's some extras
that goes with them. Underneath... They've refused to tell me any
details, so I'm mighty curious," he says amusedly.

Steven makes a nondescript entrance, casually inserting himself into the
crowd. Since he's new in town there are scarce familiar faces and even
fewer people recognize him. Of course it is Halloween so it's no big
deal. He exchanges a few kind words with some partygoers as he tries to
get a sense of the party's compass.

Harriet pages: For RP's sake, let's say Harriet gave Zach a description
of Steven. Since Harriet isn't able to greet him at the moment. :)


Zach stands solo for a few moments after Bazil melts away into the mill
of partypeople, but then he spots a costume he hasn't seen before. He
fills up a cup with punch (and an eyeball), and beelines for Steven with
a smile. "Good evening, sir. You wouldn't happen to be Reg Shoe, of the
Ankh-Morpork City Watch, would you? I'm Cyclops, and I'm co-hosting this
party together with Harriet Potter. ...who is absent at the moment, but
should emerge pretty soon. Welcome!" And he hands the newcomer the
aforementioned cup of punch (and an eyeball).

Steven turns his attention to 'Cyclops' and his welcoming cup of punch.
"Hi there," the skull-faced man replies, "I'm sorry but I don't think I
fit the description." A rictus smile spreads as he accepts the drink and
offers a hand to shake, "I'm an associate of Harriet... Potter?" Coulda
swore the card read Davis.

Zach smiles wholesomely and shakes the proffered hand firmly. "Ah well, I
was shooting from the hip on that guess," he says. "Good to meet you, mr.
Corpse. Like I said, Harriet should be right out. She's making some
special adjustments to her costume I think. If you've got the munchies,
there's plenty of stuff on the tables over here..." He gestures over to
the laden tables, where there's enough foods of all kinds to feed the
entire Scandinavian populace.

Steven gives merely a passing glance at the food table. Corpses don't
eat, afterall. "So tell me," he begins, keeping Zach within conversation
range, "You said you're a friend of hers, right?" The cup passes under
his blacked-out nostrils and he sniffs the drink, and eyes the eyeball.
The party is in full swing, with people in costumes milling around and
talking, and eating at the groaning tables of all sorts of food. Harriet
isn't anywhere to be found, at the moment, unless she's behind one of the
masks, or in that closed tent. Zach and Steven, aka Cyclops and a corpse
in a snazzy suit, are standing together near the huge punchbowl,
chatting.

Zach nods and helps himself to another cup of punch. "I'm Harriet's
boyfriend, in real life," he tells the corpse. "And you? Where do you
know her from?" he asks amicably. "One of her artist friends?"

A late arrival, Bob wanders into the area. Likely the man gets a few
chuckles or giggles from others as they see his costume. He just smiles
back at everyone though and makes his way further into the crowd,
stumbling once due to the footwear. "I was about to ask you that," Steven
counters, the smile a bizarre companion piece to his appearance, "I just
came into town this evening. She mentioned she had artist friends and I
was interested in meeting a few. Name's Steven.." He finally takes a sip,
swallowing the 'eyeball' ourderve when nobody's looking.


Zach grins. "Ahh! You're the doc she was telling me about, righto! Well,
I'm no artist, unless you count hobbying around with cooking and playing
the guitar. I'm a mechanic, mostly working with cars and bikes these
days. But I can introduce you to some of the artistic folks ro..."  Zach
pauses and goggles at the French Maid. "Well, heloooo nurse!"

Bob:
	Black and white outfit. Short skirt with a white lacey apron over
it. Lace lines the bosom as well, which is likely padded. Black
stockings, high heels, and a white bow in the hair, which appears to be a
blonde wig. Yep, it looks like this guy dressed up as a French maid.
Underneath it all, the man stands just a tad under six foot tall. He is
clean shaven and his light green eyes stare out from above a blunt nose.
He has a square jaw and broad shoulders, though his waist is a bit slim.
Overall he looks in good condition.

Steven is halfway into a question for Zach when he attention follows the
other to the new arrival, "You fix up things other than car and bi... ?"
He spies the Man-made Maid and gives a chuckle. At least he came clean
shaven, "You don't see that every day."

Bob heads over towards the punchbowl, looking for some refreshment. S/He
nods politely to the corpse and the X-man by the bowl and pauses to grab
himself a drink. "I'm a maid, not a nurse," he comments jovially to Zach.

Zach laughs and makes a show of ogling the 'maid'. "Sorry 'bout that, my
mistake. I am a wholesome young lad, whith little true experience with
women. I sometimes get cnfused," he says pompously, then bursts into
another laugh. "And I totally suck at being a pokerspine. Ah, well. Hrm,
you're Bob aren't you?," he aks after peering at Bob and thinking hard.

Steven gives a second glance back at Cyclops when he makes his
explanation to the French Maid. For now he's content to hang back and let
the two carry on, merely observing the proceedings.

Bazil wanders back from the throng of the party, the wizardized man
looking quite pleased with himself and happy with the world. He heads
over to Zach and company, quirking an eyebrow. "New friends, Zach?"

Bob flutters his/her eyelashes and produces a feather duster from behind
his back. Hiding his face behind it he smiles and talks in a falsetto
voice. "Oh you are just a darling. I could give you an experience you
wouldn't believe." Ahem. Dropping down an octave or so to his normal tone
he grins. "And lest this get too weird, I'll stop right there. And yes,
I'm Bob. You were.... Zach?" He pauses to smile at Bazil as the wizard
comes over.

Zach nods to Bob. "Yep, I am he. Right, I see some introductions are
required. Lemme see if I can get this right..." He pauses, clears his
throat for effect, and starts. "Bob, the corpse here is called Steven and
he's a medical doc. Gandalf here is really Bazil, and an architect
(unless I totally slept through that introduction). Steve, Baz -- meet
Bob, who, as far as I know, is a paramedic. Right?"

Bob nods and tucks the feather duster behind his apron as he extends a
hand to each of the newly introduced people.

Steven's dark eyes in the center of his sockets light up with interest
when he hears Bob's profession. He offers a thin hand to shake and a
welcoming smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." The same plesantries
for Gandalf follow.

Bazil offers his hand to Bob and Steve each in term, a firm grip to him.
He nods. "An architect, yes, Zach," he says with bemusement, and smiles
again "Pleased to meet you both."

Bob is intrigued at Steven's profession too. "A doctor? What type? And
yeah, I'm a paramedic, though I might be changing soon. Trying to get
into that Drug Clinic that opened up not long ago."

<OOC> Bazil says, "Oh, and guys-who-are-not-in-tent, what do you think of
Bob and Steve?"

"Bob and Steven are Harrietfriends, while Baz is a friend of both of us,"
Zach explains further. "But, now that we've all met, I'll be your frined
too!" he beams generously. "Some punch, Baz?"

Long distance to Bazil: Zach thinks they're neat, new people. He doesn't
know them yet.

Bazil chuckles quietly and nods to Zach. "Please, my friend?" he asks
quietly, before watching the two talk shop.

"General practice," Steven murmurs to Bob, adding with a smile, "Former.
I'm working down at the free clinics now, or I will be soon." With
seemingly effortless movement he draws a business card (bone white, with
indented black lettering outlined faintly in gold leaf, Romalian Type)
and offers it to the Maid, "Tell the truth I came ahead of my work. I
don't start until tomorrow.."

Zach grabs a cup and ladels a generous amount of sickly yellow punch into
it, and an eyeball. It stares accusinly up at Bazil, as Zach hands over
the cup. "Here you go, pal. Enjoy."

Bob takes the proffered card and looks for a place to stick it. Finally
he settles with putting it down his front. "Guess I needed a purse," he
says with a chuckle.

Bazil takes the cup and nods his thanks to Zach. He reaches into the cup,
and sets the eyeball spinning in the punch, before starting to drink it-
the punch, not he eyeball.

Steven throws Bob a mischievous wink, "Just don't get it mixed in with
your personal effects." Steering the conversation into more interesting
waters he asks, "Which drug clinic are you looking to get into?"

"The Lange Drug and Alcohol Center," replies Bob, peering cautiously at
his own drink which is peering right back at him. "It's new, so I figured
it might need some good staff."

Zach quiets and listens to the guys get acquainted, while sipping his
drink. Around them, music is sounding from hidden and not-so-hidden
speakers. A few couples are dancing and making merry wherever there's a
clear spot of ground, and there's a pirate and a mummy lounging in the
beanbags, talking quietly.

Bazil leans back to let the two exchange information, and wanders back
into the crowd himself. He seems to enjoy talking to folks, chatting with
them, engaging in casual conversation easil.

Steven offers Bob a few words of encouragement along with a possible
opportunity, "I'm sure you'll get the position, and maybe if you need I
can pull a few strings and look into having them review your file." Again
the rictus smile returns, "It's probably not good to talk business here.
Give me a call later?"

Bob just nods in reply. "I've been talking with them, sounds encouraging.
And yeah, talking shop at a party isn't good. Soon we'd be talking blood
and guts and making the other people squeamish." He grins and finally
tries some of the punch. No eyeball however.

Goldie steps out of the tent, remarking to Harriet as she does so, "I'll
explain what I mean in a minute."

The scorned eyeballs stare forlornly at Bob and Bazil. Zach smiles and
starts to withdraw from Bob and Steven, since they seem to be getting
along famously. He drifts over to the food tables, and grabs some stuffed
chillis.

Harriet follows Goldie, her face rather beet red. "I fear the
explanation," she says, thoughtfully. Her eyes scan the partygoers,
smiling and waving at the people she knows. Seeing Bob, Steven, and Zach
talking together, she beams, and heads in that direction, gesturing for
Goldie to come along.

Goldie:
	The first thing you notice about this small figure is the mop of
short blonde hair, clean and shining, a colour so golden it almost
gleams. From beneath the fringe of hair peer out dark brown eyes, wary
and suspicious of the world. The face beneath the eyes has only begun to
show hints of femininity, still much more girl than woman.
	As your gaze moves from her face, it becomes obvious that her
body is that indeed of a young girl, no more than sixteen at the most. It
would be generous to describe her build as 'slender', 'skinny' or
'scrawny' probably being closer to the truth. Combined with a sense of
hollowness about her face, it's pretty clear she doesn't always get
enough to eat.
	Though she's not imposing, or indeed much more than at best
'pretty', there seems to be an almost disconcerting intensity to her. It
is as though she is exactly who she is and nothing can change that, the
force of her personality leaving an impression which quite belies her
size
	Goldie is dressed up for Halloween in a similar fashion to
Harriet, it would appear. Long, black wizard's robes obscure her curves
with an emerald sash is tied around her waist, holding the robe to her
body there and helping show a little more of her figure despite the heavy
fabric. This combined with her distinctive blond hair, and an arrogant
sneer she holds when remembering to, say it all to those who are familiar
with certain books. Care for a female 'Draco Malfory' anyone?

Steven just nods at Bob's mentioning of gore and mangled and all that
stuff, remarking, "And people wonder why we're not that keen on Horror
flicks." The approaching group catches his eye and he observes the
newcomers, "I believe more introductions are in order."

	Harriet appears to be a woman in her mid-twenties. She's one or
two inches above five feet in height, slender and darkly tanned, making
the bright green of her eyes even more noticeable in her sun-touched
face. She has shoulder-length, unruly, dark brown hair, with bangs that
tend to flop over the frames of her glasses. Her round, open face is just
a touch drawn, pointing to perhaps too many nights spent with not enough
sleep in her recent past. Nevertheless, she seems to be used to doing a
lot of smiling, from the tiny laugh lines that crinkle the corners of her
eyes. Her body is fit, not muscular, but with a certain wiry tone adding
definition to her shoulders and calves. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses
perch--slightly askew--on her nose.
	She's dressed up in fine style for Halloween, it would appear.
Long, black wizard's robes obscure her curves with a crimson sash is tied
around her waist, holding the robe to her body there and helping show a
little more of her figure despite the heavy fabric. A high black collar
obscures her throat, framing her face between it and hair cut short and
boyish, while drawing attention to the tape wrapped glasses and the
jagged, lightning-bolt-shaped scar upon her forehead. Yup, she's
'Harriet' Potter.

Goldie slips through the crowds toward Zach, passing Harriet with a
combination of a smile and a smirk on her face. Running up to 'Cyclops',
she hugs him lightly.

From afar, Harriet seems to be moving a little more carefully than
before, and there's a sort of leatherish creaking when she gets close.

You sense Goldie slips you a small device, murmuring to you, "Spells have
power over certain wizards..."

Goldie pages: The small remote sized box has three buttons labeled with
stickers: 'Imperio!', 'Crucio!', and 'Avada Peite Kedavra!'. Page both
Harriet and I whenever you press one. ^_^

Bazil wanders back out of the crowd and over towards the pair. He quirks
a solitary eyebrow. "So...?" he asks cheerfully, despite reddened face.

Zach blinks and then smiles brilliantly as he gets hugged. Clearly,
Goldie has spotted the shortest way to win his heart. "Goldie! Hi! Er,
sorry, I meant Draco." He smiles and hugs her back carefully, making sure
to let her go as soon as she gives signs of withdrawal. "Whazzat?" he
asks curiously, in response to something or other.

Bob looks towards the two approaching females and smiles. "Hey there
Harriet. Who is your young apprentice there." He hrms softly as Zach
comments on the girl's name. "Harry Potter fan, are you?"

"The muggle equivilent of a wand?" Goldie suggests to Zach, seemingly
amused by something. Turning to Bob, she grins then says in a mock sneer,
"I -hate- Potter. It was one of is little friends who caused the accident
in the potions lab and -this- is the result."

Harriet eyes Bob, and wolf-whistles appreciatively. "Wonderful costume,
Bob! And Steven, you look very snazzy. For a dead guy, you know?" She
winks at them both and grins. The perceptive might notice that she's
being a little more careful in her movements than usual.

Bazil quirks his eyebrow higher, and smooths out his false beard around
his face. The costume change is not evident... Ah well. "Hrm. Fooling
around in class again, eh, Malfoy?" he says, shaking the staff again.
"Demerits! Detention! Hrmph."

You paged Goldie with 'You are so getting resonated. And I am going for a
CD 1 or 2.'.

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 4 + 3 = 7 . Check die: 4

You paged Goldie with 'Your most and least noble deed in the last week,
please? :)'.

From afar, Goldie hmms, "There is a tie for the later."

Steven offers a courtly bow at the head to Harriet Potter... ohhhh, now
it makes sense! He takes note of her wariness but makes no obvious move
to question it. Instead he finishes his drink and discards it just as
casually.

Bob is grinning at the girl's reaction to his innocent question.
Smoothing his face with some effort he hmphs. "Bet it was that Squib,
Longbottom. Don't know why they even let him around other people. He's a
walking disaster."

Goldie pages: Most honorable is spending an afternoon explaining to a
couple of fellow students what a recent lecture actually -meant-.

Goldie pages: Least honorable is either 'babozzling a shop assistant into
giving her a 35 discount on a purchase' or 'not telling Harriet about the
remote... and that Goldie is on the same frequency'.

Goldie flashes an obviously ingrating smile, "Of course it was that
half-squib. I don't know what Professor Sprout sees in him... Pity
perhaps?"

Zach peers at Goldie, and then down in his hand, where a small device now
rests. On his face is a look of dubious curiosity. The kind that will
only be satisfied by an Answer(tm). His eyes move to look at Harriet, and
then back at the device. He hmms softly to himself, looking torn.  
Focusing on Goldie again, his eyebrows go UP! There's a slight tremour
running through him, and he bites his lip and closes his eyes. Long
distance to Goldie: Zach chooses the latter deed, for extra effect. :)

From afar, Goldie nods, "Oddly enough, Goldie trusts you despite herself.
She wouldn't let anyone except you or Harriet this sort of opportunity."

"Hey! Neville's a cutey, and I can say that now, because I'm a girl,"
Harriet says, and sticks her tongue out at 'Draco'. "But he could use a
little...work on his Potions." She gives the small device in Zach's hand
a puzzled look.

Bob continues the conversation with an air of distraction as he looks
between Zach and Harriet, trying to figure out what is going on now that
he's noticed something. "Maybe she's steering him towards an area that
he'll be safer. After all, plants do grow back more easily than us..." He
furrows his brow, intrigued now by The Device!(tm).

Steven eyes the Thingamajig with some mild interest. His gaze switches
from Goldie, Zach and Harriet in various combinations.

Bazil quirks an eyebrow and rests a hand on Zach's shoulder, looking
mildly concerned.

Goldie makes a disgusted face, "-Neville-? Cute? I prefer some who won't
melt off my face making tea one day... If I was interested at all in
-boys-." While having begun strong, she trails off awkwardly at the end.

Zach bites his lip harder, and is now vibrating with restrained
/something/. A half-choked hiccup escapes him, as he grabs Harriet and
drags her off a few yards to whisper something to her.

Harriet giggles at Goldie. "Okay, okay. So Neville has...a few problems.
Just a couple," she says, and that's all she'll admit to. And then she's
grabbed and dragged, giving Zach a startled look.

Goldie blinks as Zach moves away, hurriedly following, "Where are you
going with -Potter-?! What are you doing, muggle!?"

Bob gives Zach a startled look too and shoots a few glances at the
others, wondering if they know what is going on.

Zach has a hard time controling himself, and the choked giggles are by
now quite evident. He mutters to Harriet, "... she... you... you're...
a..."

Harriet senses "Zach has a hard time controling himself, and the choked
giggles are by now quite evident. "Did she tell you that whatever you're
wearing comes with a remote control?""

Bazil shakes his head at Bob, then turns back to Goldie and looks at her
penetratingly for a moment, before shrugging at Bob. "So, er..." He
blinks, as he hears the giggles, and begins adding up and getting 4.

Zach waves a hand at Draco, probably just to annoy the little wizard.

Steven quirks a painted over brow as the scene goes from mild to
intriguing. He reaches over into a distracted partygoer's cup and steals
the eyeball to snack on as he watches the private moment.

Harriet looks blankly at Zach for a few moments, then her face starts
turning a nice shade of purple, and she starts giggling, and shaking her
head. She mutters something to Zach in a very low voice.

Harriet mutters to Zach, "... die,..."

Harriet whispers "Push the button, and die, one-eye..."

Goldie visibly bite back a smirk then, as angrily as she can pretent to
manage, stalks toward the waving Zach. If nothing else, you have to
admire her persistance in trying to stay vaguely in character.

Bob apparently is still getting different answers each time he adds it
up. "Ah... So... um, yeah." He follows Steven's example and takes an
eyeball to nibble on.

Zach prudently vanishes the device into one of his cool X-manly
pocketses. "Yes, dear," he tells Harriet and the collapses in laughter.
Goldie marchin over to them to stare imperviously does nothing, NOTHING
to lessen his mirth.

"Artists," Steven absently muses to the man-in-the-dress, "Gotta love
'em.." Cadaver thin fingers reach into his coat for his pack of
cigarettes.

You sense Goldie looks a little flushed as she strides toward the two of
you.

Goldie murmurs to the pair in a more normal voice, "Not up to the
Uforgivables then?

You sense Goldie whispers to you both, "I... I am sorry if I assumed."

Bob ahs softly at Steven's comment and just nods. The trio still has his
attention however. He doesn't want to miss the floor show.

Zach reaches out and unceremoniously pulls Goldie closer, so he can try
whispering to them both, in between the laughs and the chortles.
"C'mere...lissen..."

Harriet attempts to retain dignity, as she watches Zach's mirth. When
Goldie whispers something, she turns and beams at the younger woman, and
bows. She replies in a quiet voice, grinning.

To (Zach, Goldie), Harriet pages: I think it's a lovely idea, dear.
You've done nothing wrong, you know?"

Long distance to (Goldie, Harriet): Zach snickers and has great
difficulty conveying the message, but... "Heehee... I'm up to it, but not
here! If y'all are...*snicker* up for it, then later on...? *teehee* What
Harriet said."

Bazil smiles broadly, and turns away to watch the rest of the crowd,
leaving the trio to their privacy.

Zach lifts the Cyclops-shade to wipe at his eyes. There's no deadly
laser-beam forthcoming, thankfully.

Steven fumbles in his pockets and draws out the much-needed pack. He
takes out a cigarette and lights it up only to have his first drag
interrupted with a furious beeping from his belt. He looks down at the
pager message and blows out smoke with a sigh, "Figures.."

Goldie looks between the two, blushing for a moment before murmuring a
reply.

To (Zach, Harriet), Goldie pages: If you are sure... I mean, I said I'd
not do anything to 'Harry' that didn't happen to me." She blushes and
says, "I set it so it wouldn't be -too- bad on Imperio and Crucio..."

Bob peers at Steven and the beeping. Grinning he pats his side where one
might be found but isn't. "I'm glad I left mine home today. Those things
ruin everything."

Harriet glances back at the sound of the beeper. She eyes Draco and Cyke
with an amused expression, still blushing, then replies in a low voice.
After doing so, she turns and starts back to the other group.
Must...retain...dignity!

From afar, to (Zach, Goldie): Harriet grins. "It's fine. You guys are too
mischevious for my own good, and I love you both. Now, for the sake of
the party, I'm going to mingle a bit. Before they think we're scheduling
an orgy without them, you know?" She winks at them both.

From afar, Cosmo wishes you could too. We had a good time.

Bazil continues to circulate in the crowd, stopping over by Steven and
Bob for a moment. Looking over at Steven with sympathy, he chuckles.
"Same for me- I do union liasing- and I've learned to leave the cell
/off/ at gatherings..."

Steven simply shrugs off the inconvenience even as he prepares to go, "No
matter where I put mine I still have to go in and clean up later. Might
as well be on-time." His voice goes up just a notch so a few of the
partygoers can overhear, "Looks like a couple people who had too much fun
at a party got hit by a truck coming home. I'll be on spatula duty all
night.." Again he turns to Bob and offers a warm handshake, "I'll be
seeing you around Mr. ...?"

Goldie glances over towards Bazil, Bob, and Steve and murmurs something
to Harriet,

From afar, to (Harriet, Zach): Goldie says, jokingly, "Sorry, but they
-ain't- invited..."

From afar, to (Harriet, Zach): Goldie adds, before Harriet moves off, "Go
on. Push the button, 'Frank'."

Bob winces at the desription. "If I didn't know there were plenty of
people on duty tonight, I'd come with you. As it is, I'm only good for
transporting them. Good luck, Doc. Save who you can and Light guide you."

Zach looks up and finally stops sniggering, when he heard Steven. "Aw
shucks. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. It's good work, so luck to
you. Thanks for coming, though," he tells the man.

Bazil nods respectfully, turning serious. "Good luck, then, and
godspeed," he says gravely. He sighs a bit, hearing the cause...

Harriet giggles at Goldie's murmured comment, and sticks her tongue out
at her before turning to Steven. "Oh, it's a shame you've got to go, you
know? But I'm glad you came!" Perhaps she goes a little green a 'spatula'
duty, but she shakes it off, and offers him her hand. "I hope to see you
around again, Steven."

Steven gives Bob an easygoing smile as the two exchange plesantries,
"I'll talk to you about the clinic later. Have a good night." To Bazil:
"I'll do my best, sir. Just be careful going home.. it's a bad night for
driving." And of course Zach, Harriet and the gang, more smiles and
waves. He shakes Harriet's hand warmly and gives her his Sunday best
grin, "Great party, miss Potter. I hope I'll be hearing from you soon
about it."

Goldie nods, seeming to not appreciate her own mental imagery now, "The
only thing I can think of which could be worse is if instead of a spatula
you had to be using tirage markers... Good luck.

Zach places a hand on Goldie's shoulder, and squeezes fondly. Also, he
winks at her as the twitches of mirth creeps back into his features.

Bob nods to Steven and wishes him some more luck. He returns to watching
the odd trio of merriment and tries to figure out what is going on.

From afar, to (Harriet, Zach): Goldie OOCly comments, "If we want to
continue, at least talking out the result of this, when would be good for
you both IRL?"

From afar, to (Zach, Goldie): Harriet mentions that Harriet, ICly, will
probably balk at taking it beyond flirting and teasing. :)

From afar, to (Harriet, Zach): Goldie nods, "I did mean -talk-, and not
as a euphenism.

You paged (Goldie, Harriet) with 'And Zach will be ICly Very Careful,
knowing that Goldie is kinda fragile about this, and Harriet is ....very
vanilla. :)'.

Bazil nods to Steven and waves again, before turning back to Harriet,
Zach, and Goldie bemusedly. "I really don't want to know, do I?" Steven
makes one final comment to Harriet in low tones before he makes his
departure, slipping through the crowds like people were tall grass.

Steven mutters to Harriet, "... in... maid... looks... You... wanna...
him out the..."

Goldie looks at Bazil carefully for a long moment then states,
unequiviocally, "No. No, you don't."

Harriet blinks and gives Steven's back a bit of a puzzled look. Then she
shakes her head slightly, and smiles warmly at Bazil and Bob. "Goldie's
right," she intones, solemnly. She glances at Bob. "So, if I may ask,
what made you pick that, you know? I love it!"

Zach smiles bemusedly at Bazil. "I sort of think that you're right in
that assessment, Baz. Let's just way that /someone/, who ain't me, has
been rather, er, creative..."

Bob hears the word 'maid' in Steven's little conversation with Harriet
and he peers after him suspiciously as the Doctor leaves. He is brought
back to the here and now as Harriet asks him about the costume. He gives
the answer with a jolly little smile. "Well, it's part of a bet. There
was another party I went to, and wearing this won the bet. Since I had
the outfit, and figuring you could use a laugh or few, I wore it here."

Harriet smiles. "Well, I like it, you know? Dare I ask what you won?" She
looks around for people who don't have drinks, then reaches out to snag
the appropriate number of cups.

Bazil chuckles and laughs, shaking his head. He backs off a bit to go
retrieve more of those chilis. Mmmm.

"Oh, just some money," replies Bob. "Not too much, really, but I figured
it would be fun anyway. Besides, the looks on people's faces were
priceless."

Zach grins at the others, and starts mingling again, now that things are
more or less under control. He hopes.