Before the party. (Gin's mansion around 5 PM.)

[LNS]

With one leg draped over the other GingerSnap sat with her back against the arm of the wingback chair. Tapping her chin thoughtfully with a slender finger.

"You weren't really going to leave that there. Were you?" Gin questioned.

"Why not?" Rico asked turning to face the teenager.

"For starters that's dip for the chips and you have it next to the brownies."

"It's a new taste sensation Highness. Everyone who is anyone is dipping their brownies these days."

Ignoring the 'Highness' Gin replied, "And how may I ask would you know? I very much doubt your friends know anything about cuisine other than how to microwave their tv dinners."

"Now Highness, you know as well as I that I have no life outside of serving you." Rico was trying his hardest to push buttons.

Hell if he had to go through this Halloween party crap and cook for all her idiotic friends he should at least have the amusement of ruffling the heiress to keep him smiling through the whole ordeal.

Gin let out a small "Ha!" but said nothing else in reply. How he made her want to just smash something or throw one of those stupid precious vases of her mother's against the wall. Thankfully Tripp would be showing up soon and hopefully brining Keys with him.

[Kat]

Jasmine smoothed her dress down over her thighs one final time before turning down the hall that led to the main room the party was being held in. As planned ages ago, she and Lightning had decided to come by a little early, because Jasmine liked being there to see everyone show up. She liked keeping tabs on people. Lightning had really only come along with her because they went everywhere together. He didn't really care a great deal for parties, but he still went to them.

Jasmine had made plans to meet up with her friends later on whenever they showed. The twins and Pretty Beat would be showing up with Bambi, and Jasmine had been tempted to wait and go with the group. After all their outfits were all connected through fairy tales. She also had plans to meet with Toffee whenever he showed up. She was looking forward to a party night with her friends.

The pair entered the room just as Rico made his comment. Jasmine smiled wickedly. She knew how Rico aggravated Gin. "Gin, hello! Is the help being his usual obnoxious self?" Jasmine sent Rico a chilly glance before looking back at Gin and smiling.


(So I figure that since Jas and the crew are friends with Skyler and the boys, they would be friends with Gin as well; and I figured the kids are just being let in by the butler, right?)

[LNS]

Gin smiled when she heard Jasmine's voice. Friend or foe at least it was a familiar face. Standing up she walked over to Jasmine and Lightning.

"You know the old saying 'good help is hard to find' ... Rico is anything but good." Gin smiled sweetly in Rico's direction the picture of an angel.

Rico inwardly rolled his eyes. As though Highness wasn't enough to deal with, Her Imperial Majesty had to go and show up early. Wonderful. Picking up the dip, Rico made a great show of moving it away from the brownies before leaving the room to check on various things he was in the middle of preparing in the kitchen.

"Wonderful to see you both." Gin stated knowing that manners were everything to some, even if she didn't care to go to great lengths in maintaining hers, "I'm so glad you arrived early. It's always nice to have a friendly face here."


[I hope you don't mind Rico giving Jas a nickname as well. He isn't too fond of the rich and spoiled.

That would make sense. I somehow doubt they are as good of friends as Ace and his crew are though. Gin seems a bit more loyal to Ace these days. *nods* Yes, Dusty is letting the kids in. He'll most likely disappear a little after eight or so to give the kids their space.

Oh and wanted to let you all know, Gin has changed her Halloween costume. She's now wearing that 'cowgirl' outfit from Sin City that Jessica Alba wore.]

[Kat]

(Oh yes, they're definitely not as close as they would have been when they were younger, but Jasmine always likes to be so false anyway, heh; and nicknames are good, especially that one!!)

Jasmine nodded her head at Gin's comment about good help being hard to find. Lightning however was just annoyed. Being here reminded him how his father was a loser who wasted his money on alcohol and his loser friends. But instead of leeting his aggravation show to the girls, he instead directed a glare at Rico as he made his way out of the room. Finally settling himself after a moment, Lightning looked back at Gin and smiled.

"Have I mentioned yet today how absolutely stunning your outfit is? It suits you very well." Lightning himself had come dressed as Prince Charming. It had been either that or the Wood Chopper to tie in with Jasmine's outfit, and he wasn't about to wear plaid for anyone.

Jasmine agreed with Lightning's comment, nodding her head. Though she had to refrain from making a comment about whch bronco Gin would be bucking on top of tonight. She was feeling particular nasty tonight after the assembly at school that day. She'd been shocked to hear Princess' band play, angry that they were actually good. She hadn't had the chance to vent her anger yet so she would have to be careful not to let her frustration get a hold of her until there were more suitable people to vent it at. After all, even though she and Gin weren't the best of friends, she wasn't exactly looking to put an end to their amicable relationship either. Soon enough someone on the expendable side of the scale would show up. She would just have to be patient.

[LNS]

[Glad you like the nickname. So seemed like something someone should call her.]


"Thank you very much Lightning." Gin smiled warmly, "That's very sweet of you to say. And I must admit you look extremely dashing as Prince Charming."

Inwardly she wondered how someone so sweet could be so tightly wrapped around Jasmine's finger. Granted the girl wasn't really evil, but than it wasn't as though she'd been on the receiving end of Jasmine's wrath before either.

"Jasmine I have to say you are a perfect Little Red Riding Hood." Turning towards Lightning Gin said, "She's simply gorgeous. Don't you think so Lightning?"

She knew the answer. Or presumed she did anyway.

"Snaps!" Tripp was all smiles when he entered the room, "The name's Seven. Double O' Seven."

Gin chuckled as her best friend struck a James Bond pose. Someone was feeling good tonight. More so than usual.

Letting out a whistle Tripp said, "Damn do you look sexy."

Gin blushed ever so slightly. Why did Tripp have to be well Tripp sometimes?

Keys snorted, "Ignore him. He's said the same thing to anything with a pulse today." Giving Gin a light peck on the cheek Keys whispered so only Gin could hear, "Changed your mind about the other costume I see."

"For you information I wasn't talking to Snaps." Tripp replied seriously, "I was talking about Lightning."

Making eyes at the other teenager Tripp perhaps had already had some 'spirits' before coming to the mansion. Really Lightning wasn't even close to his type. Not that he was bad looking but he certainly wasn't that tall cool raven haired teenager he'd taken to meeting in another town.

While Keys wouldn't have admitted it for anything he did feel more than a little out of place with the costumes the others were wearing. An outlaw. What had he been thinking? He should have known better than to try and do something that coordinated with someone else.

[Kat]

Lightning smiled back at Gin at her comment, knowing that he did look pretty damn good. Even though he felt quite foolish. Why he'd let the girls talk him into going along with their fairy tale theme, he wasn't quite sure. But at least the outfit looked expensive, thanks to Jasmine of course.

Jasmine smiled at Gin as well at the exchange, about to make a comment when Trip and Keys suddenly entered the room. Tripp looked quite good, she had to admit. He certainly made a good Bond. She didn't pay much attention to Keys, but then again she never really did. At most she'd only ever really said a casual hello here and there.

When Tripp made the comment that he had been talking about his own self, Lightning had to stifle another angry glare. He simply laughed and shook his head. "Not even James Bond could swing me, my friend. But thanks anyway." He winked amiably, surprised at how well he could play along. In reality though the thought of Tripp even looking at him that way made him want to hurl.

Jasmine chuckled as well at the exchange, knowing full well how Lightning felt about homosexuality. He wasn't one to joke around about the subject with. She was beyond pleased that he was behaving tonight, though. It was a start.

[LNS]

Gin wasn't quite sure how to take Tripp's comment about him referring to Lightning. Did her best friend swing that way? No, couldn't be. Could it? He'd never mentioned anything to her. Never so much as hinted. Perhaps it was a warm up for irking Skyler? Yes, that had to be it. Though she had to admit to herself she was a little surprised. She'd never seen Tripp joke about that with anyone but Sky before. Was Ace rubbing off on him?

Tripp faked disappointment, "Looks like another girl for Bond tonight than. Woe is me."

"Poor girl." Gin replied with a hint of devilish merriment in her eyes.

Tripp ignored Gin choosing to behave as much as was possible for him to do, "So how's the team been doing this year Lightning?" While Tripp truly cared less about sports he figured small talk was at least safe in present company.

As much as she would have liked to get all cuddly with Keys, Gin refrained from doing so. It was one thing around Ace and company. With Jasmine and her crew it was another. Keys seemed to know that though and was content to stand in the background, like he had for so many years. Than again it wasn't as though he had really left the background. Not for long. With a new step-father and step-sister he'd suddenly been glued to the background. Amazing how everyone seemed to know Teer but didn't know who he was even though he'd gone to school with them since kindergarten.

[Kat]

Lightning fixed a polite smile on Tripp, glad to be distracted from his prior thoughts with sports. Always a safe topic. "Both are going well, thanks. Football in particular looks to be quite strong, with our new training regime. I expect we'll do well this year." Lightning wasn't lying, the team was training more this year and their training was definitely improving their game. Lightning was one of the star receivers, his speed a veritable asset on the field.



Four more girls had just arrived and were making their way along the hall to the room now. Sunny, dressed in a long, flowing and billowy dress, and wrap sandals on her feet, her hair tumbling in long curls down her back, looked every bit the Grecian princess she was dressed to be. She was missing her Grecian god though. Rex was supposed to come to the party, but he'd decided to stop by the cafe first to hang out with Bones while he was working. Once he got off work, Rex and Bones would both stop by the party. She had also wanted to make sure Pekoe came to the party. Things between the two girls were still a little choppy at times. Pekoe had never apologized for all of the insensitve things she had said to her best friend and Sunny simply kept forgiving her because she was too worried. She just hoped that being at a party with her friends would make her feel better.

Holland walked between Sunny and Chloe, feeling very excited for the party. She just hoped Chase wouldn't try to hover over her too much. Partying with your protective older brother didn't count among the funnest things to do as a teenager after all.

[Cres]

[[Okay, I'm confused so I need to ask: just when should I bring my boys Toffee and Coffee in? Are they supposed to arrive with someone? Or shall I just post with them coming in?

Also, does this mean we're skipping the School assembly and the rest stuff at school? If so, I'll go ahead and write a few journal entries to clear up what's happened to Rowan and his little sister after Princess broke up with him. ^-^]]

[Kat]

(You can bring them in whenever you want! We're just kinda throwing people in as we go, I'm just waiting for more people to show before I bring Ace and his crew in. We could play some scenes from the assembly if you want, since we know everything that was supposed to happen it shouldn't impact the party much. Or we can just skip it all and write some journal entries on it!)

[Cres]

[[I'm totally cool with skipping the assembly and just writing journal entries! I'll bring some of mine in soon. Is Cara supposed to meet Sparky at the party or arrive together with her? Brit won't be coming, for obvious reasons. ]]

[Kat]

(Cara would be meeting up with Sparky and Moki so they can enter together, you wanna bring them in now? You can start that if you want:)

[Cres]

Cara was feeling slightly odd in her costume; she wasn't used to dressing up sexy. However, she had to admit that she rather liked it. Her father would have got a heart attack had he seen her though, and she didn't even dare to think of what her brothers would say, but none of her family was there, so it was all good.

When the three girls, Sparky and two of her succubi - Brit had not showed up for some reason - arrived into the hall, Cara couldn't help but stare around her. This place was the fanciest she'd seen like, ever. She felt herself quite outstaged here. Back home and at the diner she was the queen of the house, but here... here she felt like an inconsequential little bug.

She didn't like that feeling.

[[there now - I'll bring my boys soon after, but I thought to give the girls a little push first.

EDIT: I just wrote Rowie's journal entry on the assembly. I'll add Muriel's a bit later.]]

[Kat]

Sparky followed Cara into the room, not taken aback at all as she had been here before. She casually made her way over to the group, hands on her hips and devilish grin on her face. Moki followed closely behind her, quickly grabbing Cara's hand to pull her along after she and Sparky.

Moki was extremely excited for the party. She loved hosting parties at the resort, but it was more fun to get off the island for her. She stopped at Sparky's side when they reached the group, her eyes darting around from person to person. She also loved Halloween. All the costumes were so fun! She was glad she had gone with a theme with some of her friends this year. Sure it was fun to stand out on your own, but standing out as a small group had its advantages as well.


Jasmine watched as the three girls walked up to the group, fighting to keep a sneer off her face. Of course, Sparky was here. Along with her little island friend, Moki. Jasmine didn't like Moki. Mostly because Moki stole her thunder. While Jasmine was beautiful in her ethnicity, different from the norm, Moki was breathtaking. Plus, she was a lot taller and generally more noticeable. But still she would be polite. "Hello ladies. Nice of you to join us."


Sparky looked at Jasmine and grinned. "Why thank you. I must say, you are looking most delectable tonight, Jazzy. Very delectable indeed." Sparky licked her lips, knowing it was bound to aggravate Jasmine.

[Cres]

Cara followed Sparky and Moki to the others with a smile. She was trying to be less cautious and get to the mood of enjoying herself. This was supposed to be fun, she reminded herself. She couldn't help but think that it might not have been such a good thing that Sparky was dressed up the way she was - Cara thought her far too sexy at that moment.

She followed up on the confrontation between Sparky, Moki and Jasmine. She had disliked Jasmine from the start, and ever since she hooked up with the new boy and his twin, she'd disliked her even more. She could tell Toffee was bad news; she'd seen enough of his type to know.

Of course, she had her suspicions on Ace as well, and especially after what had happened at the assembly she really couldn't understand why Sparky was such good friends with Ace. Cara automatically connected Princess's cruel stunt with Ace, and she didn't approve of it at all.



At that point there were other arrivals, however. Before Jasmine could make an answer, if she was even going to, two boys emerged almost as though out of nowhere behind Sparky and her two succubi. Toffee, dressed in black wizard's robes, and his brother, dressed as close to Caramon's attire as they had been able to manage, had followed not far behind Sparky.

"Good evening, ladies," Toffee spoke with his smooth voice. He had begun to think, as Ace and the rest had made fun of his costume, that the vampire, while dull, would have been a better selection of dress for the night, but he chose to ignore the discomfort. At least he had dressed for Halloween, not for a fancy dress party. Raistlin was a scary character, and then, it was original.

Even if those blasted nerds had dressed as other Dragonlance characters. He was aggravated to no end.

Coffee stood by his brother's side a little uncomfortably, though it didn't show. Toffee had been even more impatient than normal with him that day, and some comments he had heard had made him rather uneasy.

"Great dress, Jasmine," he chipped in, however, in his usual honest way that suited his role as Caramon so well. Then he looked at Sparky, too. "Wow, that's really hot, Sparkle."

He didn't intentionally use a wrong name - he had simply forgotten her precise name. He was also - sadly - oblivious to the tension between the girls.