Halloween

[Aurora Snow]

 Aurora stood in the elevator, blatantly ignoring the drunk couple giggling and talking about their after-after party plans. She checked her phone, finally opening Evan's texts instead of just reading them from her notifications. They'd been partners for a while now, but she was still incredibly frosty with him. It didn't help that he had inserted himself into her life as though he'd been there from the beginning. He'd made an off-hand remark that she was the only one his charm didn't work on. She still didn't know what he was, so she'd settled on "generic Fae" typing, and considered herself lucky that she was just able to withstand it. Honestly, his smooth, friendly nature just reflected as smug to her. In truth, Phoenix types weren't known for their humble nature, but it was hard to say if Aurora had just experienced too much trauma to really even be impacted by that good, likable nature that they exuded, or if there was some other reason that spoke to her resistance to his wiles. Either way, Evan had taken the challenge, unbeknownst to Aurora. It was just a happy byproduct that her sister Anna and her beau Nolan liked him.

The elevator dinged and Aurora shoved past the two who had now started kissing, entering what she was one-thousand percent certain was the fucking Twilight Zone. Bonne Chance was usually an incredibly classy restaurant, boasting multiple levels and a rooftop garden getaway, but tonight it was just blacklights and fog machines and, if the tingling sensation at the back of her neck had anything to say about it, a little magic on loan from some of the patrons. She steeled herself and pressed on, the deep pulse of the base giving her chest a sensation every time it struck. When Evan had said "Halloween Party" she had honestly expected like, a snack table and waitresses dressed as sexy Girl Scouts or some shit, not whatever this was.

She slid up to the bar, glancing down at a neon orange leaflet that illuminated under the blacklights that had been brought in and placed strategically to give the 'creepy aura' they were going for. She had to admit, it was pretty well done. Definitely spoke to a budget - and when she read the flyer, she realized exactly why. Looked like a few other bars had thrown in - namely, Hellcat's Hollow. It seemed like someone had finally convinced the Triste to take a Halloween off.

"Hey!" a voice behind her said. She turned, just barely having put her fingers on the cold glass of her Jack and coke.

"Hey yourself," she said, not even bothering to speak at a volume over the music. Aurora didn't feel like yelling. Fortunately, Evan could hear her just fine.

Evan rolled his eyes. "What are you supposed to be?" he asked. He looked her up and down, frowning. She was wearing jeans and a fitted olive shirt, a grey jacket over that.

"I'm a homicidal maniac. We look just like every else," she said glibly. She pointedly ignored his frown, motioning for another drink, despite having one in her hand still.

"Yeah, okay Wednesday, I guess it's a good thing I knew you'd do this," he said. "Fortunately, you're in luck. I brought an extra costume for you. No need to thank me, I know I'm amazing already," he said slyly.

Aurora met his smile with an utterly blank expression. She finished her drink, setting it on the bar with a clink, and picked up the second one she'd had at the ready. "No thanks, Robin Hood. I don't feel like being Maid Marian. Purity's not really my gig."

"Oh, no, my dear - I'm Peter Pan. And you, my pretty blonde companion, are going to be Tinkerbell." The way he phrased it was not a request - and he leaned in, still smiling, but his tone had changed. "This is my second favourite holiday, and I want to have a good time, so we are going to have a good time. Finish your drink, go put on the damn costume, and just relax for one fucking night. Can you do that for me?" He pulled back, still smiling, and there was a split second where Aurora felt self-congratulatory for forcing him to break his usual charismatic facade. Until his expression changed again, and he tacked on a, "Please, Aurora. It'll be a good time. I promise," he said, more quietly, and with less salt and considerably more feeling.

In response, and unwilling to let him know that it would have been easy to say no until he said that last bit, she knocked her second drink back and smiled at him. "I've been here five minutes and I've already got you begging. I consider that a win."

"Oh, my dear, if you only knew how much patience and willpower I actually had," he countered, taking her hand and kissing it, causing her to recoil - which he laughed at. He was back to his usual self, and followed up with a sweeping bow. "Your costume is in the changing room. And don't worry, Anna was already tracking all of this, so she's on standby for your hair and makeup."

"You turned my own sister against me," she hissed, still holding her hand like he'd burned her.

"Stop being so dramatic. It's for your own good," he assured her. "Now go. And don't try to leave - Shannon already saw you come in, and she's going to rat you out if you try to bail."

Aurora spun on her heel and went toward the changing rooms, though it didn't stop her from looking at the elevator. She hoped Evan had a good reason for touting the 'good vibe Halloween' so hard. Of course, not knowing that he was as old as dirt did lend to some of the mystery - immortal creatures had all the time in the world to make memories of things, and all the time in the world to repeat them. Deviating from their ideal was hardly recommended. Still, she hoped Evan wouldn't try to go dom daddy on her again - Aurora was planning on not remembering anything after her first 30 minutes in costume as fucking Tinkerbell of all things, and as he'd learned before, trying to corral her while she was belligerently drunk was a straight up health hazard.