[ OPEN ] That haunted house was our tunnel of love.

[hostage]

Date & Time: After dinnertime on October 31 (forward-dated)
Location: Cafeteria
Characters: OPEN!
Summary: As mentioned here, it's half a cookie-baking party and half a Halloween celebration.
Warnings: Warnings in subject lines if necessary (???)
Notes: Party-style! Just tag in and tag around. And don't cause too much trouble or you'll be, um, escorted out.

[For anyone who's been at any of the previous baking sessions, the setup is much the same, only larger in scale now that they're in a cafeteria instead of Unit 409's kitchen. Supplies and ingredients are everywhere, including food dye, nuts, sprinkles, and frosting. Anyone who's new at this will at least have gotten five minutes of instruction from Jesse, though the recipe is written and on display for anyone who's forgotten details. It's all very simple and easy-to-understand, because your host is also very simple and easy-to-understand. How exactly you decide to flavor and decorate the cookies is left up to you.

The cafeteria itself has been livened up with Halloween decorations. Snacks have been provided so the party-goers don't end up eating all the cookies meant for newcomers. And there's music! Some of it appropriately themed, some of it the hip hop and dubstep that can typically be found on Jesse's iPod. The atmosphere is relaxed and people can be expected to make a mess.]

Comments

[gevurah]

My mom always told me not to play with my food.

[ She leans against the wall, the smile ever present. ]

The kids are having fun.

[ She doesn't want to interrupt it. ]

[lucency]

Ah, so you're chaperoning. [ what a good cause. someone's got to keep everyone from blowing things up. making an icing explosion. turning the entire cafeteria into rainbow colors. ] I understand completely.

[gevurah]

Oh, no —

[ She shakes her head. ]

I'm just... watching.

[ As odd as it sounds. ]

[lucency]

Watching.

[ belle repeats it with a nod, the takes another look out to the participants, and then shrugs. if it makes the woman happy, she is not going to argue with it. ]

At least it's entertaining.

[gevurah]

This place is in sore need of better interior decorations.

[ Although she aims to keep herself busy with missions and training, staring at the same, bland walls everyday are slowly weighing down on her. ]

Who knew you could get bored of space so quickly?

[lucency]

Well. Being able to explore it is one thing.

Being cooped up in here, on the other hand -

[ it isn't how she would have wanted to enjoy outer space, is what she's getting at. she understands the whole no air, you will die thing, but, well. there's a difference between seeing the stars and being in the middle of them. ]

[gevurah]

[ Kate nods briefly, expression a tad grim for a fleeting moment. ]

We'll get back down eventually.

[lucency]

It's - [ she sighs, thinking on precisely how to put her feelings into words. ] Truthfully, I'm thankful for the experience, even if the circumstances aren't exactly what I would've chosen.

Given everything, we'll be more helpful back on land, but.

[gevurah]

But?

[ She tilts her head, looking at her. ]

[lucency]

But - [ she shrugs. ] even if it's not exactly a pleasant detour, I never dreamed I'd see anything like this up close. I'm trying to think of it fondly, personally.

[gevurah]

[ Fondly? Kate wonders if she can, with half a million dead burdening her soul. ]

We have to make the best of it.

[ Right. ]

I'm Kate.

[lucency]

That's it exactly. [ and a lot more concisely than she ever would have put it. she smiles, and holds out her hand. ] Belle.

[gevurah]

Short for Isabelle?

[ She takes Belle's hand and shakes on it. ]

[lucency]

Ah, nope. Just Belle!

[ and lacey. once before. she doesn't like to talk about that. ]

Can't say I've been asked that before, either.

[gevurah]

[ She grins. ]

I assumed it was a nickname since it's not too uncommon. Like Kate... short for Katherine.

[lucency]

Oh! [ to be fair, she does come from a place with names like snow white and rumplestiltskin. ] Is - that yours? Katherine?

[gevurah]

[ And she comes from a place where people call themselves Batman and Batgirl... and then you've got the Riddler, Two-Face, the Mad Hatter. ]

It is, but I prefer Kate.

[ Only her dad gets to use the full name ultimatum on her. ]

[lucency]

Of course. I'll be sure to remember that.

[ rudeness? absolutely not. belle knows how to be respectful. she's got this. and she doesn't ask a question about it, either. it's her name. it's all good. ]

[gevurah]

[ She extends a hand for Belle. ]

And it's nice to meet you.

[lucency]

[ and handshake number two, with a warm smile. ]

You too.

[gevurah]

How long have you been here, Belle?

[lucency]

Three months? Four? [ she frowns, slightly. it's not that time's been a blur, but she's kept busy. it's fast. ] Not very, compared to others. You?

[gevurah]

Year and some days.

[ She slips her hands into her pockets. ]

Long enough. They're still pulling in new Transports, I imagine.

[ They have so much ahead of them to figure out. ]

[lucency]

Like clockwork, it seems. [ even if she hasn't been here as long as others, she figured that part out relatively quickly. ] You haven't - seen any of them? The new Transports?

[gevurah]

Not yet. I'm hoping they don't bring any new folk in.