Collaboration between Ghost Shadow as Henry Carlyle, YoshiSkittlez as Ruby, Regina, and Granny, and I as Dr. Faye Stevenson and Dr. Whale

*~*~*

Henry closed the door of his car where he left his suitcase, coat, scarf, and gloves behind; wearing only his white dress shirt and trousers. 

"Something tells me this isn't going to be pleasant." He said, somewhat dryly, adjusting the collar of his shirt in the car mirror - always had to look his best. 

"I should hope you don't laugh [i]too[/i] hard at my expense, doctor. I'd like at least a shred of dignity by the festival's end." He said with a small smirk, a warm, almost playful tone to his voice: which only seemed to come out more around her. 

Faye exited the car as Henry did, answering his dry comment, "You never know, it could turn out to be a fun experience," She laughed a bit at his next comment, and she joked in the same tone as Henry's, "Oh don't worry, I highly doubt you'll lose any more dignity from being the dunk tank victim," 

She then studied his attire, and she asked him "Are you sure you don't want to wear the Miners' Day T-shirt that was provided?"

Henry smiled slightly wider at her question, "Faye, can you honestly see me wearing a t-shirt and swim trunks?" He asked with a small chuckle. "If I'm going to make so wide a public appearance, I might as well look my best." He added, wondering internally if she was admiring him or not. 

Faye shrugged and answered, leading the way to the Storybrooke hospital booth, "No, but it's a possibilty," After he made his comment, and she said with a slight mischeivous smirk of her own, "OK, but I bet you'll be wanting that T-Shirt and swim trunks after this event," 

As she led the way and spoke with Henry, the people around them seemed to ignore them, busy in their own affairs, until they reached the booth that Faye ran. Next to that booth was a giant dunk tank, colored only in primary colors. When they arrived, Dr. Whale ran up to her and he said "Dr. Stevenson! We still don't have a volunteer, what-" He stopped when he noticed Henry and he asked warily, "What is [i]he[/i] doing here?"

Dr. Stevenson raised her eyebrows and she said seriously, "Dr. Whale. Henry Carlyle has agreed to be our dunk tank victim," 
Dr. Whale seemed to do a double take between her and Henry and he said to her "You [i]cannot[/i] be serious, Dr. Stevenson," She interrupted him "I am serious, Dr. Whale," 

"Public humiliation? Seem appropriate enough to me, wouldn't you agree, Dr. Whale?" Henry asked dryly, stepping up to the tank without waiting for an answer. 

"Shall I step in?" He asked, looking to Faye. 

Faye nodded and answered in a semi-joking tone, "Go ahead, Mr. Carlyle. Your throne awaits," Just as Dr. Whale was about to protest, she said to him, "Dr. Whale, you can go ahead and spread word that the dunk tank booth is now open for patrons,"

Dr. Whale clenched his teeth, and he went off to do as Faye told him to. She stood behind the desk next to the tank, waiting for customers to line up for the chance of dunking the newcomer. 

Henry untucked his shirt and mussed up his hair a bit before stepping up the short ladder behind the tank; sitting quite comfortably on the chair that sat just above the still pool of water. 

He looked over at Faye again, grinning widely, his old self seeming to return. "Just to let you know right now, I'm going to try and get as much water as humanly possible on you." He said, his tone serious, but a small glint in his eye signaled amusement - though not giving an inch either way as to whether the threat was serious or not. 

Faye retorted to Henry's warning in a joking way, while mimicking the secretary's voice "I've got my eye on you," 

Ruby had just arrived on the scene, heaving a box that was probably twice her weight in cookies, only too glad to set it down next to the booth that was beside the water dunking tank. She only got in two good breaths when she realized just who she was beside, and her lips split into a wide grin.

"I see you got your volunteer!" Ruby said with amusement to Faye, all the while looking up at Henry perched precariously on the dunk-tank seat.

Faye looked to Ruby, smiling happily as she greeted "Hi Ruby! Yes, he was the only volunteer, so how could we refuse?" She then asked Ruby, "Would you like to be the first one to dunk Henry into the tank?"

Henry waved to Ruby as she arrived before placing both hands on his knees, looking about the town square with obvious interest. One with trained ears could have heard him mumbling a song under his breath, most likely a nervous tic. 

However, he quickly came to attention at the mention of Ruby being the first "lucky" contestant, his eyes widening in fear. "Have mercy." He said half-heartedly, playing the part of a literal victim well enough. 

Ruby's eyes seemed to brighten at the idea, but then looking at the baseballs that were provided to throw at the itt-bitty target her smile faultered.

"I've never been too good with sports, he might not get wet." She said shifting her weight onto her opposite leg. She looked around them, unsurprised to find that no one else was jumping to the opportunity, more like avoiding the dunk tank altogether. Her face became serious, biting onto her lower lip in thought. If this dunk tank was going to get any attention, then something big had to happen.

Ruby turned back around, quickly and pulled a five dollar bill out of her pocket and handed it to Faye and took it upon herself to grab the first ball.

Faye had expected the answer. Like it would be that easy. But much to her surprise, Ruby seemed to have a change of heart, and Faye took the five dollar bill in surprise that turned into happiness, even though the original price was $1 per ball (the max payment was $3). 

"You should have left Storybrooke when you had the chance!" Ruby yelled, pulling her arm back and flung the ball awkwardly, missing the target a good ways away but her determined face kept vigil. She grabbed the second ball and threw it with the same amount of luck.

Faye watched as Ruby threw the balls, giving words of encouragement to Ruby to keep on trying and to show the newcomer what for! As Ruby did this, she noticed that the people nearby watched, the scene. Some looked as though they were getting the idea of doing the same thing.

"How could you? You creep!" Ruby grabbed another ball, this one dropping behind her before being able to be thrown forward. Ruby watched the ball roll down the street just a few feet before a high-heeled foot stepped onto the baseball, stopping it in it's place. Ruby looked up from the shoe, up the blue jeans and black turtleneck until her eyes landed on Regina, looking at the baseball underneath her foot as if she had just stepped in a pile of manure.

However, her happiness faded into worry as she watched the ball roll into the street and under Madame Mayor's foot. Her smile was replaced by a hesitant look as worry that the mayor may try and shut down her booth creeped into her mind. 

Henry's expression had turned mocking as Ruby failed (quite miserably) at hitting the target. No doubt that the hilarity of her attempts was just as inviting to the other citizens. However, all amusement faded as Regina entered the scene - strangely without Mason at her side. 

The Mayor stooped down to pick up the baseball before looking over at Henry, tossing the baseball up and down in her hand, contemplating what to do with it. This seemed to catch the attention of those walking by, all stopping in their tracks, wondering with deep intent on what their Mayor was going to do next.

Henry's eyes locked hard onto hers, a sly smirk at the corner of his mouth as he awaited her next move. 

A muscle in Regina's lip twitched. There was so much going on in her head at the moment that she didn't even think about the consequences of what she did next might wrought down on her. With strength that even surprised her, Regina threw the ball with precise accuracy, nailing the small red circle in the middle of the target.

"Oh, Dear." He barely managed to say as the ball hit the target.

A loud "DING!" resounded right after Regina hit the target, and the seat dropped Henry right into the tank, earning a laugh from Faye and everyone who was watching. Faye called to the people who had their attention on what was happening, 

"Let's give it up for Ruby and Madam Mayor everyone!" She started to clapping and it didn't take everyone long to do the same. 

She looked at Henry and she smiled her praises at him, silently telling him that this wouldn't have been possible without him. She watched as people stepped in line, waiting for the chance to dunk the newcomer.

Henry slowly lifted himself out of the tank, shivering and looking not-too-pleased at the moment. "I...f-forgot the...swim c-cap." He managed to say shakily, pointing to his wet, matted hair for emphasis. 

Ruby took the moment to step back to the booth, surprised to find Granny already there and with the boxes of sweets unpacked and ready to start selling.

"You did a good thing Ruby." Granny commended, not bothering to look up at her granddaughter as she did though, but Ruby was more than happy to take the compliment.

Regina, on the other hand, seemed to have regretted her decision soon as Dr. Stevenson had turned her action into some sort of...heroic display. She could hear the crowd's eagerness to get in line behind her. She turned on her heel and pushed through them however, not wishing to stick around to be asked to do it again. It had felt good to dunk Henry into a bucket of ice-cold water yes, but now the people were starting to like him again...and this time it was her fault.

Granny had plastered up a sign on Faye's booth, and now next to the 'ALS Dunk Tank Fundraiser' was now an added note,

'$5.00 for a picture with town creep'

Faye didn't turn Granny away. After the sign was up, she commented with a small smile, "Good thing I brought a camera with me,"

Ruby found her jaw dropping at the sign and elbowed the older woman in the ribs.

"A bit much don't you think?"

Granny just smiled.

"If you don't, I will!" Granny said pulling a five-dollar bill out of her purse and then moved to hurry in line leaving Ruby to tend their baking stand, shaking her head and laughing all the while.

Henry managed to climb back atop the seat, rubbing his arms furiously to generate a bit of warmth. His eyes gazed over at the sign Granny put up. His head cocked to the side in confusion for a moment. 

"Five dollars for a picture, eh? I'd say charge seven. After all I'm in a...very wet white shirt." He added, pointing to his quite-visible chest through the sopped material, managing a short laugh before shaking his head furiously to clear out some of the water. 

Faye chuckled and shook her head at his comment. After Regina left, nearly all of Storybrooke had stepped up and attempted to dunk Henry at least once. Some came back for more attempts, and there were some who paid extra for the picture as Granny advertised. Dr. Stevenson noticed that the only person she hadn't seen in line was Mr. Gold. But then, that was to be expected, and she wasn't complaining about his absence.