The Club, a MGLN Alternate Universe

Interlude: Halloween

Hayate Yagami liked Halloween, it was one of her favorite times of year. Well, she liked Christmas too. And Valentine's Day. And even Saint Patrick's Day too. Really, she enjoyed any day she could dress up her staff in interesting costumes and have fun.

"I am NOT wearing this," Signum's aggrieved voice came out from the changing room.

Hayate bit back a chuckle. "It's not that bad," she called, "at least it covers everything."

"Hayate!" Signum groaned.

"Would you prefer the warrior princess one" Hayate teased, "I still have it you know."

With a lot of grumbling Signum carried on changing even as Hayate grinned. Shamal looked on in disapproval, the lovely blond dressed in a sexy nurse outfit. "What are you putting her in?" she demanded, her top barely holding in her generous breasts.

"Don't worry, I think you'll like it," Hayate told her with a smirk.

"Why gothic lolita?" Vita complained as the little redhead emerged in her black dress with much white lace and thrills. She also carried a cute stuffed bunny, one which she held onto tightly.

"I think it suits you," Hayate admitted, "but if you really want to wear something different I could find something else."

Vita hesitated then shrugged. "Well, I think it'll do," she said with false casualness, posessively clutching the bunny.

"Hayate I am going to hurt you," Signum growled as she stalked out in a black leather corset, panties boots and gloves. She looked like a character out of a fetish magazine, in fact all she needed to be a dominatrix was a whip.

"Oh my," Shamal murmured, eyes wide and a fierce blush staining her cheeks as her imagination ran wild.

"Oh, it really suits you," Hayate enthused as she circled the slightly confused Signum, "now give me your best glare."

"What?" Signum glared at her.

"Yes!" Hayate nodded, "The girls are going to melt over you!" Enthusiastically she added, "You'll be driving them back with stick!"

Signum blinked, then looked at Vita. "Did you get any of that?" she asked the other woman plaintively, knowing Vita usually understood Hayate better than she did.

"Some girls like tough, commanding ladies," Vita shrugged casually as she said, "and I guess in that outfit you qualify."

"You look terrific," Shamal said as she suddenly pressed herself up against Signum, her breasts nearly spilling from the tiny top.

"Shamal." Signum blushed, trying to fend the slightly smaller woman off.

Hayate bit back a chuckle even as Zafira scowled, adjusting his costume as a plush figure. "Do I have to wear this?" he asked plaintively, the white fur covering him from head to toe.

"You look adorable!" Vita grinned.

"See?" Hayate smiled smugly, "It's a perfect choice."

"Wow," Nanoha blinked as she took in the costumed group admiringly. Hayate had clearly went all out again this year, but everyone knew Hayate was crazy about costumes.

"Hey, Nanoha," Shamal waved, still keeping a tight grip on Signum.

"Hello nurse!" Nanoha joked, getting a laugh from Vita. She looked over at Hayate as she noted, "I'm almost dreading what you'll put me in."

"You know I wouldn't put you in anything too much," Hayate pouted.

"This from the woman who tried to talk Shamal into just wearing a flesh colored body stocking last year," Nanoha rolled her eyes.

Hayate protested, "Hey, it covered everything!"

"Barely," Shamal sighed.

Hayate nobly ignored the snide comments as she beamed at the casually dressed Nanoha. "So, are you ready for your costume?"

"If I say no will that count?" Nanoha wondered as the others snickered softly.

"Not really," Hayate said cheerfully as she pulled her towards the change rooms. "I think I have the perfect thing in mind."

"Just not too perverted, please," Nanoha sighed as Hayate handed her the bundle of clothing.

"Would I do that?" Hayayte pouted cutely.

"Hell yes," Nanoha muttered.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Fate Testarossa hesitated, the attractive blond standing not far from the club. One of the rules of Halloween at the Club was that everyone had to show up in costume. If you didn't come in costume, Hayate would fit you into something, often r-rated. So she had picked a costume and put it on, but she wasn't sure this was such a good idea.

In some crazed impulse Fate picked a outfit that was brief and tight, and she wasn't sure this was a good idea. On the other hand she had dressed up, and it would be a shame for this to go to waste. Taking a deep steadying breath she headed towards the enterance, a falsely confident look on her face.

Zafira... tried to loom as imposingly as usual, but the giant fluffy outfit pretty much killed his scaryness. His face poked out of the bunny's 'mouth' and he looked distinctly annoyed, yet also adorable. "Testarossa," he nodded.

"Zafira," Fate fought down a giggle. "The bunny ears look very nice on you."

He glowered, but it really lost it's impact in that outfit. "Are you feeling a draft in that outfit?" Zafira asked dryly.

Fate fought back a blush as she admitted, "A bit. Do you think Nanoha will like it?"

"I think she will," Zafira said gravely. A smile twitched his lips, "Actually, you'll go quite well together."

Fate tried to press him on that last comment, but he just smiled. With a sigh Fate headed inside, navigating through the brightly costumed women. As expected they were all in costumes, picked out based on personal taste or Hayate's whims, whichever. There were school girl uniforms, school boy cross dressing, science fiction outfits and of course a fair amount of fetishy stuff.

"Fate," Subaru waved to her eagerly, the young woman dressed in a sort of stylized delinquent outfit. She had her chest bandaged, the traditional black cap, overcoat and pants on, making for a quite handsome look.

"Hey, Subaru," Fate smiled, "how is Teana?"

"She's good, just busy up at the bar," Subaru made a face. She looked Fate over as she mused, "I really can't imagine you wearing that normally."

Fate fought down the urge to tug at her skirt. "Well, it is Halloween," she said, shrugging. "Have you seen Nanoha?" she asked.

"Up by the bar," Subaru looked deeply amused by something. "You can't miss her."

Fate gave her a narrow eyed look, but Subaru just looked innocent. "I guess I have to go see what's amusing everyone," she said as she set off again.

It was busy up by the bar, and Fate felt at least one woman try to grab her ass. However, driving one of her moderately high heels down on the person's foot made them back off, and the gasp of pain warned everyone else off. She elbowed her way up to the bar, then froze as she took in Nanoha's costume for the night.

Nanoha equally froze, the poofy skirt and bibbed top hugging her body, along with the hawk designed staff and winged boots. "Sailor Moon?" she gaped.

Fate smiled, "Cardcaptor Sakura? It suits you." Fate did her best not to blush in the white swimsuit, short skirt and sailor designed top. The biggest pain had been getting her hair up in the damn buns, but the wonder on Nanoha's face was worth it.

"You look SO COOL!" Nanoha squealed, nearly knocking Fate over with a flying hug.

"Easy! Easy," Fate laughed, finally feeling better about the costume. Quietly she confided, "Vivio gave me the idea, actually."

"We'll show it to her then send her to bed early," Nanoha purred in her ear, "because having seen you in it now I want to get it OFF."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hayate smiled to herself as she watched Fate and Nanoha leave, then busied herself around the bar. She circled the packed building saying hi to friends and seeing if customers needed anything. Rein, Tea, Shamal, Vita and Signum were handling things well, but she still wanted to keep an eye on things. Besides, if she kept busy she didn't think about things.

As happy as Hayate was to see her friends like Nanoha and Fate and Subaru and Teana get together, she found herself wishing for something more herself. Everyone assumed she was having fun with her 'harem' but that was all rumor. They were either paired up, or not interested. And honestly she was getting tired of meaningless rolls in the hay.

She shook off her mood and smiled as Hayate greeted a young woman in Lum cosplay. As she turned she frowned slightly, seeing Signum cutting through the crowd towards her. "What's wrong?" Hayate asked quietly.

"Lindy Harloun is here," Signum told her disapprovingly. The woman disapproved of cops and authority figures in general, though Hayate had never pressed about why.

Hayate blinked in surprise, "Lindy? Why would she...?"

"I think she asked for you," Signum shrugged, "it might be best to see her."

"Will do," Hayate agreed, but paused a moment to watch all the women drooling over Signum. 'Keep drooling, she's Shamal's,' she thought, then headed to the table she and Lindy had last sat at. It was a instinctive decision, but seemingly the right one.

Lindy was sipping a drink, wearing a stylish blue dress. In a nod to the day she had attached some cute fairy wings, which really went well with her bemused expression. "Hello," she said, smiling slightly at Hayate.

"You have the oddest look on your face," Hayate noted as she sat down across from Lindy, surprised at how nice it felt to see the older woman.

"I just saw my daughter," Lindy noted, "dressed as Sailor Moon, leave here with Cardcaptor Sakura. It's going to take a few drinks to get my mind around that mental image."

"Ah," Hayate blinked then chuckled, "yeah, that would take some explaining."

"Well, at least they looked happy," Lindy conceded, chuckling.

Hayate saw that smile and heard that laugh, and something within her clicked. And all she could think as she looked at the enchanting Lindy was, 'Uh oh'

To be continued...