Halloween Event Prologue: Costume Styles and Sneaking Out

--- Joshua ---

“Coming through!” He called out as he weaved through a couple of party goers before dishing out a set of plates to the people sitting at the table. “And here’s your order. Will you be needing anything else?”

“Nah, this’ll do.” An old construction worker named Howard assured him, the man’s family dressed up like the Munsters.

“Cool, then just give me a call if you do.” He nodded, before making his way back to the bar counter.

“Thanks for grabbing that one.” Maddie told him as he drew near.

“Yeah, almost forgot how bad of a dinner rush we get at these parties.” Chris admitted, switching between several dishes behind the counter. “Was honestly hoping people would just snack on all of the treats we left out for everyone.”

“Some people just want real food rather than sweets.” He shrugged as he unwrapped a candy he’d swiped before tossing it in his mouth. “Just means more for us when they all leave.”

“Ha, like the way you think.” Maddie grinned as she adjusted the hat on her feminine mad hatter costume. “Kind of disappointed you didn’t dress up though.”

“Complete honesty, I got side tracked and forgot to grab one.” He shrugged, lying through his teeth as he briefly thought about the costume he’d be wearing once he managed to get out of this party.

“Yeah, I get you.” Chris sighed with a shake of his head before gesturing to his own costume. “I’m just lucky a bandanna and a couple of Mad’s earrings were enough to pass as a pirate.”

He couldn’t help but smirk as he had a wicked thought. “You know if you were short on a costume you always could’ve worn your old one. Definitely would’ve looked better than this mess.”

Chris scoffed. “Yeah, no. I’d rather not put that old thing on again, even if I had to come to this thing topless.”

“What? It's not like anyone will think you’re Styles.” He pointed out, as they both ignored Maddie’s joking whistle. “And I know you’ve got that outfit stashed somewhere upstairs.”

“He’s just embarrassed about his ‘old taste’.” Maddie told him with a smirk. “He no longer thinks his old costume is cool.”

“It isn’t.” Chris grimaced. “Hell it wasn’t even a proper costume with torn jeans, a leather jacket, and sunglasses.”

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“Ooh, don’t forget the slick back hair and earrings.” Maddie added, enjoying his brother’s discomfort.

“Nah, it was that smile that made the Styles’ brand.” He argued. “That cocky grin that made you just want to punch him in the face.”

He blatantly ignored how cool he used to -and still- thought that smile was.

“Oh, good point.” Maddie nodded seriously. “His patented ‘Arrogant Bastard Grin’ was the thing you never forgot. Especially with that tilted glasses thing he used to do. Took him weeks to get that down without having them just flop off of his face.”

“Alright, that’s enough about my bad fashion choices.” Chris told them both, his brother’s eyes doing a quick but subtle glance to make sure no one had heard their little conversation before looking him in the eye. “And wipe that smile off your face, give it a few years and you’re going to regret the things you think are cool now too.”

“Nah, I doubt it.” He dismissed before smirking. “My style is timeless.”

“Heh-ha, he’s got your grin down pat.” Maddie laughed.

“Didn’t you go through a goth phase?” Chris glared.

“Nah, I was just trying a darker flavor of my punk brand.” Maddie disagreed, before gesturing to her outfit. “A brand that I maintain to this day, see these are my regular pants and boots.”

He rolled his eyes with a grin and a shake of his head before letting out a yawn. “What time is it?”

“About eleven, a little after.” Chris added after checking his phone. “Tired?”

“Little bit.” He nodded.

“What? It’s Halloween and a Saturday! How can you be tired by eleven?” Maddie groaned.

“Because he barely sleeps during the week.” Chris throughout.

He snapped his fingers and pointed at his brother. “Probably that.”

“Also he’s been helping us keep this thing running rather than actually having fun with it.” Chris added with a furrowed brow. “If you don’t feel like hanging around the party you can go ahead and head upstairs.”

“You sure?” He frowned.

“Yeah, it’s not right that you’re stuck helping us with this rather than having fun.” Chris told him. “So if you don’t want to hang out you can go upstairs and watch a movie or play a game, or something fun.”

“What?” Maddie asked. “He’s having fun with us, aren’t ya?”

“Yeah, but I am getting tired.” He lied. “Probably going to get ready for bed and crash.”

“Ugh, you’re boring.” Maddie helpfully informed him.

“And I think you’ve been sipping something you shouldn’t be.” Chris said with narrowed eyes.

“Pfft, I’m barely buzzed and it’s a party.” Maddie defended in a lackadaisical manner.

“That’s not the point.” Chris argued.

(Right, I’m just going to slip away now.) He thought to himself as he left his brother to deal with that.

Once upstairs he closed the door to his room, arranged his bed to look like someone was in it, and proceeded to jump out his window. With a mid air twist he found himself in a familiar black and white outfit before hitting the ground as he adjusted the gloves on his hands.

“Now then let’s see what kind of tricks and treats are abound tonight?” He grinned with a hint of Madness.