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“Of fucking course you’d choose to cosplay on fucking Halloween.” Ian sighs as he notes the overly detailed costume that currently adorned Roderick; a sleek black coat, red gloves, and a white and black mask. When Ian casually asked what his friend was going to be for the Halloween Fest on their campus, Roddy answered that he’d be going as Joker, which surprised Ian at the time considering Roderick wasn’t super into comic books that weren’t manga or any of the modern DC shows.
Maybe he should’ve asked for further clarification as he stood before Joker from some anime game called Persona 4 or 5 (how the fuck were there 5 of those things?). He’d heard Roderick rant about his awesome techniques when it came to battling the bosses in their Palaces (?), and he’d seen Roderick fire up their PlayStation to boot up some Persona. But he was never interested in knowing more because, you know, Ian wasn’t a massive loser like Roderick.
“Objection! Like you’re not cosplaying yourself!” Roderick shot back, pointing his finger in an overly anime-esque way, “You’re going as Dracula? Really? Like, you could’ve at least gone with Castlevania’s hot daddy Drac instead of the typical vamp attire you can find in E-Bay. Or- Or Alucard, like, you’re just as irritatingly smug as him, he is the perfect eye candy for the female gaze, according to Reddit.”
“What in the fuck did I just hear?” Ian muttered to himself as he checked his fangs in the mirror one last time, his tongue running over the artificial points whilst he wondered if he should draw on more fake blood dripping down his mouth. He wanted to look bloodthirsty but not a bloodhoe, you know?
Ian admired his costume as he adjusted his white cravat that stuck out from a slick, black as night suit with a maroon vest. It was simple enough that he felt comfortable in it, but not so simple as to cut back on looking like he had tried. His cape flowed behind, not too long as that would hinder movement, and his boots were nicely polished, the faux leather glinting in the light.
“All I’m saying is, basic Dracula is so overrated, man. Even a little kid can dress up as Dracula.”
“Overrated but a classic.” Ian seethed, his fake fangs baring out as if they were a part of his biology, while his hands busied himself with adjusting and adding on a few darkly elegant jewelry onto his being, “At least people won’t immediately identify me as a loser, unlike someone I know…”
“Hey!” Roderick placed his hands on his hips, trying so hard to pose in a cool manner like Joker.
Ian turned to him with a raised brow, finished with proudly inspecting himself, “Even you yourself acknowledge that you’re a massive loser.”
“…dammit, I hate when you’re right.” Roderick sighs, as if burdened by years of resignation.
“I’m always right, noble heart.” Ian coyly swiped his index finger under Rod’s chin as he sauntered to the door, “Are you ready to go now? Or do you need more time to practice your… Persona stuff?”
“I might need a couple more minutes-”
“I will leave you here.” Ian deadpanned, his tone clearly not open for protesting.
“Alright, alright, jeez!” The Phantom Thief stomped over like a whiney child that had been denied McDonald’s as he slipped into his black boots to complete his blaring otaku warning to the rest of the world, “You are such a hard-ass.”
“I can totally be hard.” The vampire smirked as he walked off without further explanation as Rod followed behind, his brain performing mental gymnastics extremely poorly to comprehend Ian’s words.
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“Wait, what the fu-”
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“HOLY SHIT, NO WAY!” Roderick ran up to Othman, looking at his attire, the silver-ish colouration, the plated armour, the serious stance Othman was holding while Mona took photos of him, “Othman, are you the freaking Witcher?! Freaking Geralt of Rivia?!”
“Ah? You know the Witcher?” His face quickly shifted from stern solemnity to his usual friendly expression, “I’ve been getting quite invested in it lately. It’s a good series to get my mind off of studies.”
“And Mona! Are you Venus or something?” He sighed dreamily, “Because you look as beautiful as she, if not more.”
Standing by her side as the total opposite of Mona’s aesthetic was Bianca dressed as Jessica Rabbit, her lips pulled up in disdain at Roderick’s lovestruck language. Her dress hugged her body in a flattering manner, though she had to get a halter top to remain within the dress code.
“Seriously?” Bianca lifted an unimpressed brow, “You’re even cheesier than Cassian. And he’s going as goddamn Flynn Ryder.”
The roguishly dressed male tilted his head in a coy manner as he wrapped his arms around his star’s waist, “Well, hey, how could you possibly not let this thief steal your heart? I’m so good-looking.”
She scoffed lightheartedly, before turning her attention to her girl friend, “We’ll take it up in the photo booths, Cassian. But yeah, Mona. Nice costume. Got it shipped from heaven or what?”
“I actually made it.” She chuckled, before bowing like a princess.
“Even better.” Roddy sighed again, “Are you sure you’re not Aphrodite?”
“Aww!” She giggles lightly, twirling around in her white and blue gown, its simplicity making her look even more angelic, as the fabric ethereally flowed with her movements, “Thank you, Rod, but I’m just an angel. It was the easiest costume I could think of.”
“Well, it doesn’t look easy. Look at all these details! And your wings!”
“Othman helped me decorate them. He wore them while I was adjusting them and putting the final touches.” Mona took out her phone, showing Othman’s broad body, standing shyly as he wore Mona’s prototype for angel wings that were far too small for him.
Meanwhile, Ian tutted playfully as he met up with Emily, looking suspiciously like a certain unorthodox nun from a popular video game. She had a veil that flowed down to her thighs, along with a halter dress with high slits in her black skirt, though Emily wasn’t too keen on wearing something too revealing, and thus had on black spats that went well enough with her dark avant-garde attire.
“Emily, how could you do this to me?” Ian feigned utter despair, as he circled her like a vulture, “I know this outfit, it’s from that Genshin Impact game.”
“Hey, don’t diss your own girlfriend, man.” Roderick glares at him, when he was done gushing over Mona, “Seriously, that’s not cool.”
“I’m just joking, man.” Ian raises his hands up, “Besides, do you really think she’d let me get away with actually insulting her?”
“Not to worry, Rod, I’d kick him to his knees and step on him if he actually tried.”
“What if I like it, sister?” He retorts coyly, “Are you going to punish me?”
“Ian, we’re in public.” Rod deadpans.
“Well, I’m in public with you, which clearly shows I already have no shame.”
“I am going to strangle you!” He struck a pose, “Persona! Arsene! Eiha!”
“What the fuck is that alien language?” Ian grinned incredulously as he lightly shoves Rod, who shoves back in retaliation. Emily’s sigh snaps them both back to reality.
“Jesus, you two.” She drags Ian by his cape, “Behave, Ian. Be a good boy now.”
“Only for you.” He teased back, as he frees himself from her grip, “But for real, are you really a Genshin Impact character? Roderick has infected you with his weeb influence.”
Roddy huffs, “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It is.”
“It’s fun to play, yeah?” Emily flips her veil back, “Besides, I like maining Rosaria, so I’m going as Rosaria. Simple as that.”
Ian’s arm wrapped around Emily’s waist as he leaned in closer, “Well, on the plus side, you going as a hot nun does go well enough with my costume.”
She rolled her eyes, but didn’t pull away, “What? You’re going to corrupt me and make me your vampire bride or something?”
“Don’t tempt me~” He whispered in her ear, his breath warm against the chilly autumn air, sending a pleasant shiver down Emily’s spine. His grin widened as he felt it as well.
Roderick cleared his throat, ruining the mood like how his own was ruined, “Um, guys. Maybe wait till we get some candy and then you guys can go slink off into a corner to make out?”
“We are not doing that right now.” Emily forcefully pushed Ian away, smoothing out her dress, “Ian, why are you acting so horny tonight, oh my god-”
“I’m not ‘horny’, I’m getting into character.”
“Oh, when you do it, it’s fine, but when I do it, I’m cringe?” Roderick retorted with his arms crossed.
“Exactly.”
“You bastard.” Rod elbowed him, and Ian was about to manhandle him when the campus intercoms blare out.
“TO ALL STUDENTS OF SPEARE COLLEGE, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SAFE HALLOWEEN. STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO GO ANYWHERE THEY PLEASE EXCEPT TO RESTRICTED AREAS THAT ARE LOCKED. REMEMBER TO VISIT THE EAST AND WEST WINGS AS OUR STUDENTS HAVE WORKED HARD TO SET UP VARIOUS ATTRACTIONS FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT. PLEASE KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BELONGINGS, AND REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN! HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO THE STUDENTS OF SPEARE COLLEGE!!!”
“Oh! I heard that each attraction gives out free candy!” Roderick saluted them as he rushed off, “See ya! Phantom Thief business calls!”
Ian sighed as he watched Roddy race off to go see the rest of the attractions, followed by Othman and Mona walking off too, nuzzling each other as they go. Ian wanted to retch, but that would ruin all his hard work on his costume. As for Cassian and Bianca, they were nowhere to be seen. Probably already off to some secluded area to do the hanky-panky or something. Once more, he resisted the urge to projectile vomit at that image.
“I’m thinking of getting some snacks first.” Emily voices out, holding a hand out to him, “Want to come along?”
“Why are you getting snacks?” He takes it, pressing her hand to his lips, letting his fangs graze the skin of it teasingly, “You’re already a snack.”
“Oh… my god…” Emily sighed with the exhaustion that could last a lifetime and a half, though the blush on her face was undeniable, “If you’re done with your damned pick-up lines, I’d like to get some caramel apples, thank you.”
“You’re no fun, babe.” Ian rolls his eyes, before leading her over to the nearby stalls, “Come on, I want to make sure your blood is sweet before I have you for dinner later~.”
“Only if I let you, Ian.” Emily smirked back as she began eyeing the assortment of treats before the both of them.