Chapter Text
"Well, how do we look?"
"Like a pair o' weirdos," Izo answered flatly, eyes narrowed at the couple standing in front of him in the hallway. "The hell are you supposed to be again?"
Ryouma smiled awkwardly, choosing to take Izo's criticism in stride. Halloween wasn't a holiday they'd practiced back in the Bakumatsu era, and the party taking place in Chaldea's cafeteria was optional. He was no more surprised by Izo's attitude than he was at the fact his friend wouldn't be attending.
"We're undead rockers," he reminded. Ryouma gestured to the black and white make up on his face, careful not accidentally touch it. His face was painted like a skull, framed by his loose hair, and a decorative hat sat on his head. It matched the rocker style outfit he wore and fake guitar he carried on his shoulders. "Quetzalcoatl helped with the inspiration; apparently, the Day of the Dead is the day after Halloween in Latin American culture. Oryou-san and I really liked the style, so we decided to incorporate it into our costumes."
"I have no idea what that is and don't wanna know," Izo replied dryly. Despite his scorn, he cracked a wry smile. "All I know is if you dyed your hair red, you'd look like Takasugi. Ain't the musician shit his thing?"
Ryouma laughed. "Yeah, I guess it is, isn't it? Maybe that's where we got the idea from."
Beside him, however, Oryou glowered. "Don't you have anywhere else to go, bug? Oryou-san wants to show off her super cool, rockstar costume before the party ends!"
Ryouma patted her arm to calm her down. "The party's just starting, Oryou-san; don't worry, everyone will get to see how great you look in no time."
His wife grunted, still glaring at Izo.
Like him, Oryou had her face painted to resemble a skull, and had chosen a rocker outfit made of her favorite leather material. Her bangs had been swept to the side and hair brushed behind her ear, with a brightly colored flower pin holding it all in place.
Izo huffed, glancing away dismissively. "Yeah, whatever. I'm going ta my room, gettin' drunk, and goin' ta bed. Have fun at your lame party."
"Heh, good night, Izo," Ryouma said as the other man brushed by them, and continued his way down the hall. "It was nice running into you. I'm glad we got to show you our Halloween costumes!"
"Don't let the bedbugs eat you before Oryou-san gets the chance," Oryou spat after him, her eyes widened and dilated in warning.
Izo didn't so much as turn around. He flicked them a rude, western hand sign he'd picked up that Ryouma winced at, and disappeared around a corner.
"Sometimes Oryou-san thinks he tries to ruin her good moods," Oryou muttered hotly. "She spent hours picking these clothes out with Ryouma! They're very fashionable, not weird."
Ryouma patted her arm again in reassurance. "There, there. Izo didn't mean any harm. You know how he is. Besides, it's not like we often celebrate western holidays - remember, this is the first year we've attended one of Chaldea's Halloween parties in all the time we've been here. Izo's never seen us dress up like this before."
Oryou lifted her nose in the air. "Maybe he needs to be dragged into the Halloween spirit then. He's been here just as long as we have. Oryou-san is already brain-storming ideas for her and Ryouma's costumes next year! She's thinking mafia bosses. Maybe Izo can be our little lap cat? You know, like the boss always pets in the movies. We can share him - actually, no, you can keep him, Ryouma. Oryou-san will eventually get annoyed with and drop him."
Ryouma started at the suggestion. He could feel sweat prickling down the back of his neck at the thought of forcing Izo into an embarrassing role like that. But Oryou was grinning next to him, a sign her mood was lifting - and that she was probably just joking - so he chuckled quietly.
"Maybe," he said, and quickly changed the subject. "Mafia bosses, eh? How long have you been thinking about that? We just put on our undead rockers outfits, and you're already planning next year, Oryou-san. That's certainly thinking a long time ahead!"
Oryou's grin widened. She splashed through the air, floating from his side to in front of him. "Oryou-san has lots of ideas for us to wear, probably more than Chaldea will ever have Halloweens! As always, your beautiful secretary is prepared for the future, Ryouma! Next Halloween is already marked in her appointment book."
"That's good to hear," he remarked, closing his eyes. It did sound intriguing. "You'll have to go over them all with me after the party. I can't wait to find out what else you have in mind."
"Yes," Oryou replied excitedly. She surprised Ryouma by taking the sides of his head in her hands, bringing her face close to his. "And she will make sure Ryouma looks handsome in all of her ideas, to match how gorgeous Oryou-san will be."
Beneath his face paint, Ryouma blushed at the public, close proximity. Luckily, no one else was around now that Izo was gone, so he wrapped his own hands around her wrists affectionately.
"I have no doubts about it," he teased. "Oryou-san is always gorgeous in anything she wears."
"Hmph, flirt," she accused. But her eyes were lidded and lips quirked up in a small smile. "Ryouma is always handsome, too. Especially when Oryou-san works her magic on him. Otherwise, he would never stand out."
Ryouma wilted some at the backhanded compliment. But much like he had said of Izo earlier, he knew she meant no ill will with her words; that's just how Oryou was, too. "Right... So, off to the cafeteria, then?"
Oryou let go of his head and floated upwards happily. "Oryou-san wants to show off all of our hard work!"
Ryouma nodded, mirroring her enthusiasm. He stepped forward to walk on ahead. "Let's go, then."
As soon as he walked past her and she was out of his view, Oryou suddenly spoke up once more. "Ah, Ryouma."
He paused and looked over his shoulder curiously. "What is it?"
Oryou was frowning now. She tilted her head. "You really do look handsome."
He raised an eyebrow. Ryouma honestly hadn't been hurt by her comment before. He knew she truly hadn't meant any harm. Not to mention, after one hundred and fifty years of marriage, as well as an all but renewal of their wedding vows during the Saitama singularity, Ryouma was pretty confident in his wife's attraction to him. He wasn't sure what was going on here.
"Uh," he struggled to figure this one out, "thank you?"
Oryou continued to frown at him.
Ryouma scratched the back of his head. He couldn't help the nerves rising within him. "Is everything okay?"
Oryou didn't answer at first.
Then she broke out in her biggest, toothiest smile yet.
"Yes, Oryou-san really does know how to accentuate Ryouma's natural handsomeness."
Ryouma blinked. "Oh. Is that al- ? Ull!"
He stumbled and quickly worked to rebalance himself as Oryou roughly grabbed the opening of his coat and pulled him into a kiss.
Oryou let go as soon as she was satisfied. She popped her lips. "Don't worry, Oryou-san was certain our make up was all dry before she kissed you. No need to wring your hands over any smearing."
Ryouma inhaled sharply, more caught off guard than anything. "O-oh? If you say so."
He blinked rapidly, trying his best to get his bearings together.
That was...pretty spontaneous of her. Usually he and Oryou were only intimate behind closed doors.
Maybe it was because they were technically alone, but something in Ryouma told him he actually didn't mind that.
What do you know, you learn something new every day.
Oryou nodded affirmatively, pleased with herself. She swiftly floated on ahead of Ryouma.
"Let's not be late to the Halloween party!" she called over her shoulder. "Oryou-san has to show off her costume skills!"
Ryouma snapped himself out of it. He followed after her, very aware of how red he was underneath his make up. Yet he was equally as amused.
He had no idea what he would do without Oryou. If nothing else, she kept him on his toes.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."
And now that he thinking about it, watching Oryou glide through the air from behind...she really was beautiful herself. Especially in that outfit and with her hair done up like that...
Ryouma shook his head, breaking away from those thoughts, and continued after her towards the cafeteria entrance. Such things could wait until later.
For now, they had a party to get to.