"It'll be fun, they said. We'll be with you all night, they said."

Nico glared at the empty chairs around him, his friends having ditched him about ten minutes ago to mingle. He swirled the punch in his glass and tossed it back, like if he pretended it had alcohol in it then maybe it would give him some kind of reprieve from this whole experience.

His friends somehow convinced him to go to this "masquerade Halloween ball," which was just a glorified costume party. Everyone was dressed up, most in something fancy or classy rather than a dumb, makeshift costume like he was used to seeing at Halloween parties. Nico guessed this was what it was like to become an adult—no more trick-or-treating or being jostled around at some house party that he didn't want to go to. Now, he had to be stiff and uncomfortable in a nicer place that he didn't want to be at. The only saving grace was that the food was way better.

Nico glanced around, hoping that he was truly invisible at this ball. As much as he didn't want to talk to people, he also didn't want to be seen sitting at a table alone. It was a bit embarrassing.

Having given up on finding his friends, or them coming back to the table, his social anxiety finally pushed him to move from his spot and find something to do. The snack table was always a good place to escape to.

As he moved along the table of various Halloween-themed desserts, someone came up behind him and said, "I really like your costume."

Nico stiffened at the sudden interaction, deciding not to turn around immediately. "I'm just wearing black," he stated.

"Well, based on your mask, I kind of thought you were Joker. Like, from Persona 5?"

Nico was too shocked not to turn around now. Granted, Joker was now in Smash Ultimate, but still. He didn't expect to find a Persona fan in this crowd. "Um, I'm surprised you knew that."

Nico was met with a look he did not expect to see tonight. The boy in front of him was wearing a blue hoodie speckled with white, brown fitted pants, and… no shoes. He raised his eyes up to the guy's hair, which was sprayed a silvery white with bits of blonde showing underneath. In his hand was a crooked staff, a silvery fringed mask attached at the end which he held up to his eyes.

Nico blinked in surprise. "Um," he really didn't know what to say. The dim, bluish lighting of the room made it a bit difficult to see, but he couldn't deny that the stranger looked good in his simple getup.

The stranger laughed. "I know, my costume is really out of place here." He leaned in eagerly. "Do you know who I am?"

"Uh," Nico's lips quirked up at the corner, unable to contain the happiness he felt at seeing this character at an event like this. "Jack Frost?"

"Yep!" He popped the "p" at the end, seemingly very pleased that Nico guessed correctly. "Also, yeah, I've played Persona 5 Royal. It was a more recent thing, but I really liked it."

"I mean, I mostly dressed as him because I could just wear all black and a mask is a part of his character." Nico never professed to be a great conversationalist. He hadn't planned on talking to any new people tonight, so he's really unsure of what to do at the moment.

Luckily, his conversation partner seemed to be more competent. "Well, I dressed as Jack Frost, one, because I love his character. Two, because I'm lazy and can just wear a hoodie and literally be barefoot. And three, because my friends really wanted to be not-classy at this classy event." He ended by rolling his eyes. Jack Frost leaned on his staff as he turned around, pointing into the crowd. "See the Mario and Luigi right there?" Nico followed his line of sight and nodded. "Yeah, those are my friends."

Nico had to laugh. He saw a couple others dressed as Mario and Luigi, but it was more like formal wear inspired by them rather than the actual characters. However, these two went for the authentic look, big hats and mustaches and all. They really did stick out on the dance floor, not just because of their wacky dance moves.

"That seems like way more fun than what these other people are wearing," Nico commented.

"I know, right?" Jack Frost agreed enthusiastically, turning back to Nico. "I feel like the fancy ball thing really takes the fun out of Halloween costumes."

Nico smiled. "I was thinking the same thing."

"Glad we're on the same page, Joker." He stuck a hand out. "My name is Will."

"Nico," he replied, shaking the outstretched hand.

"So, Nico," he glanced down at the empty plate still clutched in Nico's hand. "Since I'm assuming you were just passing time at the snack table, care to join me on the dance floor?"

Nico considered this. He looked down at his plate, back at the empty table he was sitting at minutes ago, and out onto the dance floor where he saw Mario and Luigi still weirdly flailing around. Then, he looked at his new acquaintance, Will, who extended his hand once more, an open invitation. He smiled at Nico, gentle and sweet, his blue eyes sparkling behind his mask.

He set his plate down and set his hand lightly in the other boy's. "Why not?"

They grinned at each other, Will's hand closing around Nico's and tugging him forward. Something pulled in Nico's chest, and he wondered if there might be something magical in the air after all.

A/N: I was actually intending to have more dancing, include some conversation over slow dancing, use the mask thing to create mystery, but then it just wrapped itself up, so oh well :P Also, Will was definitely checking Nico out from afar, and only approached him when his friends pushed him toward the opening that presented itself (Mario and Luigi are Cecil and Lou Ellen, of course).