Connie and Nyra's Halloween Party - 29A (Connie's Loft)

The usually naked steel of 29A's sliding door has been covered with a Jolly Roger-style black pirate flag. Standing open, the door allows entrance into the loft proper. A small table stands at the center of the landing between the two apartments, and a burly security guard sits behind it. He wears the patch of Nachton Security. A sign reads: Pumpkin Contest, Judging 12AM. Costume Contest, Judging 1AM.

Flags of several countries - notably Spain, France, Portugal, England, and Italy - are hanging at equidistant points on the walls around the loft. Old Glory hides the bed, which has been moved adjacent to the bathroom, and any coats or extra paper plates or similar supplies upon it. Artistically false swords dangle above head-height, some eight or ten feet to the lowest from the ceiling. Some small sailing ship models hang above the dancing area. Skulls and rolls of parchment are perched on some tables throughout the space. Flickering candles and brass oil lamps have replaced the light fixtures in the room. The bathroom door has two "masts" to either side, complete with partial "sails".

The corner where the bed stood, at the northeast side of the apartment, is cordoned off partially with a sign that reads, "Fer Dems that Wants to Dance." Soft music is playing at the moment, but a music selection including a Halloween-themed CD, as well as the soundtracks for Pirates of the Caribbean, The Goonies, Beetlejuice, and other similar scary or pirate movies has been queued for playing. Other contemporary dance music has been mixed in as well.

The stairs to the "office" have been blocked with a sign reading, "Here Ye Find Death, Should Ye Pass." A table constructed specifically to stand upon the stairs holds a rather intricate Ship in a Bottle - painted with the name Black Pearl - and is denoted with the sign, Door Prize #2. A tiny machine sits at the corner of the "office;" every ten minutes or so it sprays a concoction which is hypoallergenic, but has a scent not unlike that of a sea breeze.

One path around the island is blocked off, and the counter to one side has been stocked with all manner of booze. A bartender stands ready to serve; she is dressed in a plain - but revealing - tavern wench outfit. An ice tray stands next to her, shaped like the hull of a sailing ship.

The blue corduroy couch and loveseat have been moved just to the side of the entrance, facing the "dance area." They have been covered by black sheets and plastic - for safety's sake. Soft chairs are piled in the right-hand corner for folks to sit upon.

An attractive, medium-height woman, almost unrecognizable in her costume, mingles among the guests. A deep red bandana with a tiny sun icon at the front is tied tightly about her head, and her right eye is covered with a velvet red eyepatch. Two "scars" stretch from each of her ears to her jaw very close to her blood-red lips. Burgundy jacket hanging from her shoulders, sleeves extending to mid-forearm with wide cuffs. The jacket is unbuttoned and displaying copious amounts of flesh and cleavage, her breasts pushed up and together by a white leather corset. Baggy black pantaloons are held up by a wide leather belt, from which hangs an old-style single-shot pistol, a compass, a rapier, and a three-point black hat. The hat has a pewter sun medallion on it; the peace-tied hilt of the sword has half of a sun profile built into it. Pantaloons are hanging just above the edge of calf-high black leather boots, whose heels seem to be holding the wearer three inches higher than usual.

Connie's loft is awash with colors of navy and sea blue, deep black, blood red and pure white. A light shines on each and every flag, but the atmosphere is lit mostly by candles and lamps.