There was something about Halloween, that Stephen Strange could simply not put up with. Maybe it was the careless irresponsible demeanour of parents allowing children to receive candies from strangers, unlike any other night in the year, as if all the paedophiles and psychopaths out there, out of the blue decided to take a vacation for the holiday and suddenly they were all inhabiting a perfectly safe world, free of any harm. They were not.
Perhaps it was the increase of accidents, fights and E.R patients as a result, or maybe just the cringe-making behaviour of adults feeling compelled to act like teenagers, dressing up in revealing and over-sexualized costumes, they would normally oppose to wear, under any other circumstance. Halloween was just a stupid holiday and no one could ever convince him otherwise.
Of all the events that would take place that night in New York City, the press apparently had decided to focus in only one. Anthony Stark was throwing an open sea masquerade, cause the only thing that could make a party better evidently was a huge amount of alcohol, some masks and a giant yacht sailing into the ocean, what could ever go wrong?
If you looked for Anthony Stark in a dictionary, you would find his face under the description of «crème de la crème» and he really was the elite face of New York City. He was the most renowned fashion designer in the country, owner of the Stark Industries, now worth billions in the fashion industry, constantly called a genius by the press and a playboy by himself. His parties were the envy of all those uninvited and a lifetime worth remembering event, for all those who managed to land their hands on one of his coveted invitations.
Stephen Strange leaned against his kitchen counter, microwave popcorn bag in one hand, gold rimmed masquerade invitation in the other, his best friend and colleague Karl Mordo was the number one plastic surgeon of the Stark Industries super models. He always told Stephen he could procure him an entry to any Stark's party he wanted, in the twinkling of an eye. But since Stephen was always self absorbed in his work in the hospital and put little to not effort on maintaining a healthy social life, this time Karl had just gone directly for the "bring it first and ask him nicely later" option. If, giving him no other alternative than attending, could even be considered as asking him nicely. Stephen threw the invitation on the counter and the bag of popcorn into the microwave, he was going to call Karl, tell him he was sick and settle for watching a horror movie marathon on TV.
The phone rang twice before Karl answered on the other line.
"Hello? Let me guess, this is the part where you start coughing and give me some cheap excuse to don't come," came as response and Stephen rolled his eyes blank, pulling the popcorn bag from the microwave again.
"I simply do not want to attend," he huffed knowing this fact wouldn't change his friend's mind.
"Then is good, I never gave you a choice. Pick you up in one hour, better be neat and dressed up when I arrive," Karl didn't even wait for an answer before he hung up.
Perfect, there was no way of skipping this masquerade now and he hadn't even bought a mask, because he wasn't planning on attending in first place, he shrugged it off, hoping they maybe wouldn't allow him in because of this. However, he still made his way to the bathroom and took a short shower, before he headed to his walk-in wardrobe and decided for one of the numerous blue shaded suits hanging there, white shirt, a pair of black shoes, matching tie and his crucial Jaeger LeCoultre watch.
He had just finished getting ready, when the bell rang numerous times announcing Karl's arrival, twenty minutes early, Karl obviously wanted to make sure he indeed was getting ready for the party and was letting him clear he had every intention to force him, if it wasn't the case.
"I'm coming!" Stephen shouted when he was near the foyer, "I'm ready, you don't have to knock down the door you know?" he said exasperated, jerking the door open, just to find a little girl dress up in her Halloween costume.
"I'm sorry sir," the girl said with atrace of fear and Stephen just felt the need to slam his own face against the door.
"Oh! No, I'm sorry, I was expecting someone else—, I'm afraid I don't have any candy though," he apologised feeling like a cretin for snapping at that girl that only came here to ask for candies, but to be fair, this was the first Halloween he didn't spend in the hospital in many years, how was he supposed to know, that the kids in the building hadn't given up on trick or threathing at his door yet.
"It's okay, that guy gave me twenty dollars, just to come here and make you open the door," the girl shrugged, pointing at Karl who was just hiding in the corner and walked away.
"And it worked, just fine," the man said walking his way, accompanied by Christine Palmer who was wearing a really tight purple dress.
"Well, the joke is on you, I was going to open anyways, so you lost your twenty bucks—," he folded his arms over his chest and resisted the strong pull he felt to show his tongue like some five years old, "Christine, didn't know you were coming too," he added turning to hug his ex.
"Karl invited me and I couldn't bring myself to say no, it's a Stark's party we are talking about—," she excitedly commented hugging him back, "You look great."
"You too Christine, as always," Christine was really beautiful, there was no denying this, she was also perfect in every sense of the word. If their relationship hadn't work out, it had had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with him, she was really the perfect girlfriend, so flawless it made him realise, that if he could't find happiness with a woman like her, he just outright couldn't find it with any woman at all.
"Yeah, don't get greedy though, she's my plus one tonight," Karl interrupted and Christine chuckled, seeing how he pushed Stephen away.
"And what am I?"
"My plus two," Karl winked.
"So funny," Stephen glared at him.
"Always, you know me Steph—. So, are you ready? I parked on a double yellow."
"Yes, yes, just let me grab the invitation," Stephen said heading to the kitchen were he found the gold rimmed paper, he casted a longing glance at the popcorn bag at its side and went back to the door, "let's go then."
The drive to the port wasn't long, but given that Karl and Christine kept listing the pros of his «decision» to come, since he set a foot in the car, he was more than ready to jump out when Karl finally pulled over in the parking lot.
"Here, you are going to need this," Karl said handing him a black box.
"What's this?"
"The second part of the invitation," he stated stepping out of the car and when Stephen opened it there was a black half face mask inside, it seemed like it was specially crafted, unlike any of those generic masquerade masks, he thought of buying before he decided he wasn't going to attend.
The mask had the slightest sheen of blue when brought into light, and it fitted perfectly on his face, like it was custom made, he sent his friend a suspicious glance, remembering that time some weeks ago, when he had insisted on life casting his face with gypsum, supposedly, to evaluate his bone structure for his facial reconstruction research. He had only accepted, to make Karl stop touching his face, while complimenting his incredible prominent cheekbones every time they met.
He strapped the mask on the back of his head and followed his friends to the berths, where a bunch of paparazzi and reporters, fought to take the best shots of the arriving guests.
First thing he noticed when Karl and Christine unsuccessfully tried to force him pose for some pictures, was the sea of people all dressed up in fancy dresses and suits, but all wearing the same kind of masks both his friends wore. All the girls had the same kind of black lace mask as Christine and all the guys the same black matte complete mask as Karl. This made his half dark blue glossy mask, stand out in the crowd like he had a spotlight pointing directly at his face. Sometimes he really couldn't remember the reason why, he had been a friend of Karl for so long and still continued to be.
"Who are you wearing mister—," some young blonde reporter asked him, while he waited for Christine and Karl to fulfil their desired quota of red-carpet pictures, obviously expecting him to complete her sentence with his name, and right away get the exclusive on the only person, either brave or stupid enough to wear a different kind of mask just to draw attention to himself. If she only knew attention was the last thing he intended to receive in that moment.
"Honestly, I don't even remember where I bought this suit, now if you excuse me, I have a party to attend and pretend I'm enjoying," he said as he walked to the yacht, already fed up of waiting for his friends. The reporter face contorted in the perfect mix of shock and offence, but he couldn't discern if it was because of his total disregard for fashion, or his implied comment of being here against his will, although he genuinely didn't care enough to stay and find out.
Overall the party wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, the yacht departed fairly quickly after they arrived, the incoming of drinks was constant, the music was good and the food was not horrible. So far he was having a great time with his friends, besides, people had finally stopped staring at his mask when Anthony Stark made his big entrance accompanied by a bunch of super models, wearing outfits that suggested Stark industries was running short on fabric. Everything was just right, until Stark decided to make visit to their table, alright, he had to admit Antony Stark was incredibly hot, the kind of man you just couldn't take your eyes off when he was around. Brilliant personality, a bit arrogant, but who was him to judge? He also had—, and he probably shouldn't have noticed this, just seconds after meeting the man, —a really tight ass.
"Karl my man, so nice to see you," Tony Stark saluted, squeezing Karl's shoulders from behind, startling him for a second.
"You too Tony, thanks for having us," the plastic surgeon said turning around.
"Anything for you man, just came over to meet that special someone you mentioned deserved a specially crafted eye mask," Tony said turning around to look at Christine, his eyebrows darted up, when he saw she had a completely regular mask like everybody else.
"He's just gone out to have a smoke," Tony's brows reached impossibly higher at this.
"Oh! Having known your preferences before, I would have made a move on you years ago," he commented winking at the surgeon.
"He's just a really good friend Stark, just wait until you meet him, and you'll know why I put so much effort in making him stand out tonight," Karl said patting Tony's arm, "here he comes."
He walked back to the table he and his friends were sitting at, he had just gone out to have a smoke and enjoy the fresh salty breeze of the sea for a moment, it was nice. When he returned to the table though, there was someone leaning over it talking with Karl, he didn't notice who he was, because all he could concentrate in was how tight his suit pants were, showing off his nice ass, he diverted his gaze when Karl turned around to look at him, not fast enough though, he could see it in the knowing look his friend sent him, his cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink. His blush only spread further through his face when the person straightened his back and turned around to look at him. It was no other than Anthony Stark.
"I'll be damned, what a delicious piece of eye candy you were hiding, Mordo," Tony let out, scanning him up an down in the most riddiculously blatant way anyone had ever looked at him and Stephen just pretended he didn't get what he said, walking toward him, while he felt the blood in his cheeks spreading all the way to the back of his neck.