Grape Field

Chapter 16. The night of Halloween (E)

CW: smut? 

The living room of our dormitory apartment once again buzzed in full force. Not that it had ever gone too quiet for more than a day, but today it was especially lively in preparation for one of the most anticipated parties of the year. The night of Halloween.

All the doors were spread open, as every few minutes there came something requiring a quick run to the bathroom or any of the two bedrooms, and the couch and its surroundings were drowned in piles of clothing and makeup products.

My costume demanded the least work, although I still wasn't completely sure of it. When Sasha stormed into my room a week ago, saying that she has an idea of matching costumes for me, her, and Mikasa, I thought it would be cute. But when she started talking about deadly sins and the vices of humankind, I had to brace myself for further conversation.

"You have to be Lust! You would so pull it off, come on!" she pleaded.

"Why not you or Mikasa? You'd both pull it off perfectly fine, too. I can be Pride or something like that."

"I'm gonna be Pride; I already found a crown I'd buy. And Mikasa will never agree, trust me."

"And I will?"

"You have to. Please, please, please! Think about how badass you're gonna look. So many options for an outfit, too."

And just like that, I became Lust. It wasn't like the concept didn't interest me—quite the opposite. Still, I couldn't stop thinking that it was a bit more insinuating than most of the usual Halloween costumes, so I was growing shy at the thought of introducing it to others.

Yet the sudden shyness was overdue, and now there was no other option but to own it, rock it, hold my head high, and all that. I took a sip from the bottle of wine we used for pre-gaming and turned back to sewing fake dollar bills on Mikasa's top.

"I think that'll be the last one," I said, reclining on the couch and looking up to her standing patiently between my legs. "Looks like it's all covered now, miss Greed." Her costume required the most work of all. A plain black top and a skirt were embroidered with money all over, and though she'd done the main part herself, some bills needed to be attached when the clothes were on. My arms had gotten quite sore.

"Yes, it's fine." Mikasa smiled. "Thank you, again."

"Ah! We all look so cute and sexy!" Sasha cooed, squishing her cheeks with her fists. "Do you think we'll have the best costumes? I think we'll have the best costumes. I swear, half of the people will be, like, playboy bunnies... Ugh. The dumbest costume."

She twirled in front of the mirror again, fixing the gilded crown on her half-up, half-down hair. In the moment, it seemed as if all of our costumes happened just because she wanted that shiny crown. Maybe it wasn't that far from the truth.

"You're really living up to your costume, don't you?" I chuckled.

"Eh?"

"Nothing," I replied, sharing a glance and a soundless giggle with Mikasa.

"Come on, aren't you excited?" Sasha came over to the couch and took the bottle from the coffee table.

"Very excited," I said plainly. She shot me a look, and I cracked a smile. "It's all good. I'm sure it's gonna be fun when we're at the party. Wish I didn't have to perform, though."

"You're gonna kill it," Mikasa said, shaking my shoulder. "Don't even worry; everyone will be far too gone anyway."

"Right! Maybe you need to drink some more, too." With a sly smile, Sasha held out the bottle, drawing closer to my face.