Turn Out The Lights

Halloween

When the day came, Kayama and I met up a couple of hours before the party. I bought doubles of tons of my makeup as well as a ton of jars of colored pomade for my wings. She and Gretchen helped smother my wings, and I helped her with her hair and makeup. We decided to box the extra pieces to our costumes to make sure they weren't too hurt by the time we got there. She called our hosts to let them know we were on our way, and we headed off in the van since my wings were still drying. Our hosts greeted us with open arms and told us we could get ready in the first bedroom on the right.

Kayama had more to do than I did at that point, so I put down my things and headed back to see if they needed any help getting everything put together. Mic asked for help setting up the tables, so I picked them up and carried them into the living room, and was told they needed to be placed outside. I asked if they were sure, and Yamada looked at me like I was stupid before his face lit up like a light. They were kind enough to inform me that most Japanese parties were held outside on the street to be kind to neighbors, and that even though they didn't live in an apartment as most people did, it would be easier to fit more people if they used their yard and alley as well. I nodded and thanked them for the clarification before reminding myself that it wasn't my party, and therefore not my decision.

We got everything set up and still had time to spare, so I headed back to the bedroom to get ready. Kayama wasn't done yet, so we finished placing the gold leaf on her arms before she helped me get undressed. My 'makeup' was mostly just gluing gems and glitter to my face and chest as well as some normal eyeliner and lipstick, so that was done pretty quickly. We'd decided to use the crown and dagger after all and even worked in a lace cape thing that she'd found while shopping. I was into it because it made me feel more covered even if I really wasn't. We waited till seven to leave the room so we could enter as everyone else did, and when we did, I realized a couple of things.

I figured everyone would be wearing costumes, it was a costume party. I didn't think everyone would be putting as much effort into their costumes as I had. Back home I was used to grabbing a loaf of bread to carry around all night so I could tell everyone I was a gingerbread woman. That was the caliber of effort I was used to seeing around Halloween, but when the world's most realistic werewolf walked in, I figured I'd already lost any kind of competition I thought I'd be participating in. Kayama later assured me that he just looked like that and his real costume was a lumberjack. I asked why he didn't just go with a werewolf every year, and she said she didn't know, but she would if she were him.

Maybe it was the fact that everyone was drinking, but everyone at the party was super sweet and kind? Like I know that the media says that all heroes are the best of the best, but I can't tell you how many times I've left a party early because I couldn't talk to anyone else there. The party started a little slow while all the competition details were finalized, but once that was done the games started, and it was like someone flipped a switch. Even before I came to Japan I wasn't good with crowds or strangers, but back home I had people to cling to. I tried to ask Kayama if I could stay with her, but after we filled out the couple's costume card, she went off somewhere and I didn't see her again until we were called on stage.

A huge vampire with white hair and a scar on his cheek came up to me and introduced himself as Kan Sekijiro. He asked if I wanted to play beer pong and I said sure, but I wasn't allowed to have beer. He offered to change it to vodka, and I told him I'd love to play. I'd never played beer pong before, but I'd seen American coming of age movies and had a basic grasp of the game. Their game was different though, and they had a penalty for missing your shot. When you missed, you took a shot, and when someone got a ball in your cup you alternated drinking between you and your partner.

We played against Medusa and a man wearing an airplane. They got to go first, and Medusa made her first shot. Kan downed his drink, missed his shot, and took a shot. Boeing took his shot and made it, so I downed the next drink. I made my shot and Medusa seemed less than happy to take a drink. We continued on with our game, and the other team won. Kan was a shit shot and was already drunk, so we didn't play again. 737 came over and introduced himself as Iida Tensei. He handed me a card and said that if I ever wanted to put my wings to good use I could join his team. I accepted the card and decided I wouldn't tell him I was already a pro.