The banquet hall was full of people. Halloween was a huge event on Piñata Island, so everyone was dressed up in amazingly impressive costumes. Everywhere one looked in the room, they saw someone decked out in an elaborate, patterned getup. Eddie and his father had outdone themselves with the decorations, too. Orange, black, and purple streamers and lanterns hung from the ceiling and every table had an intricately hand-carved Jack-O-Lantern as a centerpiece. Tables piled with food lined the walls. There was a gigantic dance floor with a DJ booth on the edge of it, too!
Even though the party just started, everyone already seemed to be enjoying themselves. All of the excited chatting among the guests created a joyous din.
Yoto's immensely loud laugh pierced through the buzz of the crowd and echoed all throughout the room.
"GOD, Seedos, I can't believe you actually GOT a Swamp Thing costume! I was just kidding when I suggested that, you know!" Yoto slapped himself on the knee and doubled over, still laughing up a storm.
"What? It's funny!" Seedos flicked one of the fake reeds hanging off of his arm. "And I didn't have any better ideas, so…"
"Ah, of course, you finally admit that my sense of humor is golden!" Yoto wiped his teary eyes with his cape. "I knew you'd come around!"
"I'm not saying THAT, I'm just saying you can come up with something good every once in a while," Seedos rolled his eyes. "You're not completely terrible all the time."
Yoto pulled Seedos into a tight hug and lifted him up off the ground, spinning around twice. "You're in a good mood tonight! It's a miracle!" Yoto squished his face against Seedos', grinning ear to ear.
"Put me down or my good mood won't last at all," Seedos seethed through clenched teeth.
"Fine," Yoto dropped Seedos and he almost stumbled over. "So, what's gotten you so happy? Is it you-know-who? I know you came in with her!" Yoto gestured to Leena, who was eating a cupcake rather ungracefully, a fleck of orange frosting on the tip of her nose.
"…Can't I just be social without you making comments about my love life?" Seedos' green-trimmed brows rose.
"Just answer the question, Seedos."
"That's none of your business," Seedos turned away from Yoto.
"Aw, come ON-"
"Yoto!" Avalon's voice boomed from a few feet away, a small cup of liquor in her hand. "Sod off."
"Yes, Avvie…" Yoto deflated.
"Thank y-" Seedos' gratitude was drowned out by the microphone squeaking. Half of the partygoers let out a groan and held their heads.
"Sorry about that!" Eddie's amplified voice came from the speakers. He was sitting on the DJ table with his skinny legs crossed, both hands holding onto one of the microphones. The female DJ was shooting him an admiration-filled smile as he spoke. "I just wanted to make a few announcements!"
"Heeeere we go, he's going to talk for an hour," Yoto grumbled to Seedos, elbowing him in the ribs.
"First of all, I'd like to thank you all for coming here tonight! It means a lot to me and all the staff here at the P-Factor hall!" Of course, he and his father were pretty much the only staff members who weren't janitors, but he kept that little fact quiet. "I'd also like to thank Arfur's Inn for the fantastic catering…" he squinted and scanned the room. "…even if he doesn't seem to be here yet!" He shrugged and continued on. "For all of you, I've hired a DJ-" He gestured with a flourish to the woman sitting at the table, and she waved enthusiastically. "-who also has karaoke available-"
"WOO!" exclaimed a voice that Eddie was pretty sure belonged to Sahari.
"-so if you want to sing, put your name in!" Eddie knew he would. "We also…have…" Eddie's voice trailed off and his jaw dropped.
"What the hell, is he having a stroke?" Yoto murmured to Seedos.
Seedos shook his head. "Nope. Look," He nodded towards the doorway.
Yoto turned and his jaw dropped too. "Oh."
Standing in the doorway was an extremely flustered looking Maxime, her hair half up in a bun and the rest tumbling down her shoulders. She was dressed in an enormously poofy gold dress and matching gloves. Her two older brothers flanked either side of her, both dressed as masked luchadores. One of them donned a smirk, elbowed her in the shoulder, and murmured something once he noticed Eddie's sudden silence. Maxime shoved him away and headed right for the food, her face burning as she ignored the eyes on her.
"Um, where was I? We also have other things and I hope you have fun and Happy Halloween and all that! Good night!" Eddie shoved the microphone back at the slack-jawed DJ and went rushing off to collect his bearings. He couldn't believe he flubbed his announcements. He NEVER flubbed his announcements! He found refuge in a broom closet, drew his knees up to his chest, and attempted to calm down his overpumping heart.
"Heyyyy, Maxime!" Yoto strode over to the newcomer, his arms wide. "You scared Eddie off! Impressive!"
Maxime glared daggers at Yoto and forebodingly bit the head off of a Sherbat-shaped cookie.
"Oh, I see…" Yoto gulped and placed a hand on his neck. "I'll…leave you to your cookie. S'later." He darted back to Seedos and hid behind him. "She's SCARY…not even a cute dress can mask that!" Yoto gripped Seedos' shoulders a bit too tightly. "I have no clue what Eddie even sees in her!"
"She probably wouldn't be scary if you didn't harass her," Seedos sighed. "Actually, I'm sure half of the Island would be nicer to you if you didn't feel a need to make fun of everyone."
"Oh, psh, I'm not taking any advice from The Swamp Thing!" Yoto spun Seedos around and flipped him off.
"Okay, that's it, I'm done with you," Seedos slammed his palm into his forehead and started walking away.
"Your loss, my archnemesis Captain Boring!" Yoto waved Seedos off. "I'll hang out with the COOL PEOPLE." He ran over to Avalon and grinned broadly at her.
Avalon sighed and downed the rest of her drink in one gulp.