when the crypt doors creak and the tombstones quake [open]

[titansno]

Who: Rachel and any and all guests and trick-or-treaters
What: HALLOWEEN PARTY
Where: Rachel's brownstone
When: Starting in the evening on Thursday, October 31.
Warnings: Halloween things. Power flareups. Drinking. Probably people misbehaving.

Rachel has been finishing up preparation all day. With the current condition of the city, it hasn't been easy to get everything, but it's done! Outside, the brownstone has jack-o'-lanterns glowing on the steps and stoop to welcome guests and visitors to the door.

Fake cobweb is stretched above the door and the atmosphere is right. Inside, music is playing, decorations are set, there are games to play, there are tables of food and drinks and a large bowl of Halloween candy by the door. The fun even extends to the backyard!

On the second floor, there's a room with a flatscreen TV and a big couch playing classic monster movies. Finally, there's a wet bar that she's trusting the adults to keep the kids out of.

The invitation is out, so all there is to do is wait.

[ooc: subthreads up! go forth!]

Comments

[somesayinfire]

"Please. This is just a costume." Never mind that it's not much of one—add sleeves and she's basically got her walking around clothes. "You've got the knowledge for it, and you're adorable enough to make bank in tips. Not that I'd go back to tipped work if I could avoid it."

She puts the drink down on the bar, nudges herself a little closer to Chloe, and lowers her voice, because she is about to swear. "I kind of like not having to kiss ass to survive."

[betroth]

Oh, getting conspiratorial, are they. She gives no indication she takes issue with the dreaded swearing, nodding in agreement instead.

"That's — too much! About the knowledge, and otherwise. I was just keeping myself busy, at the time," she admits, not sounding overly fond of her experience, but hardly granting it any ire, either. "But now with classes, and trying to get my certification in equine therapy, I've run all out of time instead."

[somesayinfire]

That's probably a good opinion to have with regards to the service industry, as far as Brooke is concerned. She doesn't exactly hate the dues she had to pay in it, but they're not the best of times, either. At any rate, it's Chloe's academic interests that catch her ear.

"I didn't realize you needed to get certified for that kind of thing. How intense is the process? ...Wow, sorry, you don't have to answer that. I sound like somebody's nosy aunt at Thanksgiving."

[betroth]

"Ah, but I get curious too!" She's quick to offer, expression smoothing out encouragingly. "I don't mind sharing. It's not very vigorous, because I'm working towards something I'm passionate about!"

And she really is all lit up as she talks about it, cheesy as she knows it probably looks. She can get downright goofy about the prospects.

"I've already done my applications, CPR certifications, and my two online exams. All of the self-study aspects, basically. I lead horse trails every weekend... if the weather permits. It doesn't count towards my teaching hours, but I'd never stop just because of that."

[somesayinfire]

Goofy or not, it's really great to see anybody get excited about the things they love, and Chloe is no exception. Her height and her costume really add to the experience, making her entire explanation about twenty times more adorable than it has any right to be. ("Oh my god she's so cute" isn't a negative stereotype about being short, is it? Probably not. Yeah, Brooke doesn't feel bad thinking it.)

One thing catches her ear. "CPR certification? Is there, like, equine CPR?" It makes sense if there is, but it's not something she ever really thought about. It'd be nice to get some verification straight from the horse's mouth-to-mouth.

[betroth]

Chloe nearly inhales some of her drink thanks to an ill-timed sip, holding it down to a half-snarf half-laugh-esque type thing.

"No, oh, my god, no!" Though she has to admit she's probably been due for that question and it's much funnier in these circumstances. She has to reach for a napkin before she can go on.

[somesayinfire]

Brooke starts laughing outright at Chloe's reaction. It was a dumb question, maybe, but damn, the look on her face was worth it. She has to put her drink down to make sure she doesn't spill it; she also passes over a napkin.

"Here. Sorry." She's not sorry. "I just didn't know! I mean. It makes sense. Kind of." No it doesn't. Horse mouths are enormous.