Yeosang made his way through the crowd, searching for that familiar pink head of hair. He had his dragon potion in his hand and carefully lifted it past crowding bodies, some talking, some playing games, a few idly dancing. On his way, he admired the costumes he passed, gathering inspiration for the next year. He didn't know most of Wooyoung's friends, but one person stood out.

"San! Hey," Yeosang cheered at him, and San turned with his plate of cookies. He wore a black suit and sunglasses and when he spotted Yeosang, he lowered them with his fingers to check him out.

"Hi," he grinned back when Yeosang shuffled up to him, awed to see him looking so handsome out of his uniform.

"Nice that you could make it. What are you?" Yeosang asked him, trying to guess. A Blues Brother? A James Bond? Just some guy?

"A man in black," San replied, tapping on the metal pen in his chest pocket. Yeosang had to chuckle.

"Just one?"

San scratched the back of his head.

"I accidentally deleted the memories of the other one," he said, and when Yeosang lit up with a smile, he conceded with the truth. "Had no one to match with me."

Immediately, Yeosang felt guilty as if he had the job to check in with everyone before picked his costume. He knew he couldn't make everyone happy, but sometimes it was hard not to. Yeosang just hated seeing anyone hang their heads; plants and people alike.

"Aw, you could have told me," he frowned, but San quickly shook his head, not allowing him to feel responsible.

"Absolutely not; you look great. Are you Thoth?"

Surprised, Yeosang nodded. San knew about his work and field of study, but Yeosang never would have assumed San knew his gods. Probably from one of his video games.

"Yes! How could you tell? Most people would think I was Horus." He clapped in praise, and San looked smug to have guessed right.

"Long beak," he chuckled. "Did you see Yunho in the last ten minutes?"

Yeosang turned to point in their direction.

"Over at the buffet."

"Then I will ask him what he put into these cookies because our officer might lock him up for substance abuse if they continue being this addictive."

"You gotta flash Mingi with that memory thing to get infinite good cookies," Yeosang chuckled as they pushed past each other, and San nodded gravely.

"I will. See you." With that, he pushed through the crowd and Yeosang also resumed his hunt.

As promised, he found Seonghwa in the corner hunched over some spooky games. His blinding beauty attracted everyone nearby and Yeosang easily drifted to his light to watch him finish his match of throwing hoops onto demon horns.

Seonghwa looked divine, even more so than usual. While he couldn't be more human, playing Wooyoung's silly games to win a pack of gummy worms, he easily outshone everyone else in his surroundings.

A flower wreath adorned the soft pink tousles of his hair. It wove green olive leaves with white snowberries to mingle with sweet pink and blue alstroemerias. He wore dangling golden earrings and long necklaces that dipped into the V of his white dress, which he donned gracefully on his body without ever caring about gender roles in clothing.

A golden belt and golden sandals rounded off his look and a short sheer cape dazzling with golden sparkles hugged his shoulder.

Yeosang was over the moon about him and he stared with his hammering heart until the sight of Seonghwa's smiling face was burned into the skin of his brain.

He barely realised that Seonghwa made his winning throw when he suddenly straightened and lifted his hands in cheer. Everyone else nearby who had been enraptured with him gave him grand applause. Wooyoung gave him his gummy bears and also handed him a golden mirror that seemed to be part of Seonghwa's outfit. When he curtseyed gracefully before their host and turned to leave, several people immediately crowded his way to snatch up a moment of his time.

But Seonghwa's eyes landed on Yeosang fidgeting in his spot, too taken aback by the beauty of his crush and not wanting to bother him during his triumph. Immediately, he lit up like the sun in the morning and came Yeosang's way.

Yeosang was not ready, but at the same time, his heart did a somersault in his chest because he was the one who caught Seonghwa's attention. He remembered their kisses again, yearned for that plush pink of Seonghwa's lips. They had no second date since then, but Yeosang might just be feeling courageous enough tonight to ask.

With a proud grin, Seonghwa halted in front of him. He took in Yeosang's appearance, the craft behind his costume and his idea with it. In the meantime, Yeosang tried not to die of a heart attack.

"Hi, Yeosang. You made it," Seonghwa said over the spooky piano music haunting the corners of the room. His eyes shone at Yeosang's sight, their secret unspoken between them.

Yeosang stumbled over his words.

"Oh, yeah. You look gorgeous," he brought out, too frazzled to think about anything else or how Seonghwa was doing.

But Seonghwa snickered into his mirror.

"I'm Aphrodite. Ancient Greece inspired me." Proud of his costume, he twirled left and right to make his skirts flare and Yeosang was in love with his glow and his beauty. Seonghwa was just the prettiest person on earth and it was even better that he knew and played the part.

"It wouldn't suit anyone else as well," Yeosang said, and he was almost proud of that line. Even Seonghwa looked surprised by the sudden smoothness, then he hastily glanced left and right, making sure no one from their closer circle was looking over. When no one interrupted, he reached out to settle a hand adorned by golden bracelets on to Yeosang's shoulder to press a kiss to his cheek. His lips were heavenly soft.

Yeosang flushed a bright pink. He adored Seonghwa and his respect to be discreet since they didn't go official yet. When he felt himself glow not so subtly, all their efforts might be in vain, however.

"You also look very nice," Seonghwa added when Yeosang just stood there with his blushing cheeks and he got out a brave nod.

"Thank you..."

Seonghwa smiled back shyly, leaving everything else for later when they were alone and Yeosang calmed down from his inner yelling about his Seonghwa.

Seonghwa beckoned a thumb over his shoulder.

"Are you having fun? I've been playing the games with Wooyoung if you would like to try some," he offered, and Yeosang would be a fool to decline.

"Sure, which one do you want to play?" He trailed along as Seonghwa brought him over to the next area, sticking to his side like a proud knight who was picked by his queen.

They played pumpkin tic-tac-toe, a candy relay where they had to sprint with spoons in their hands and Seonghwa almost fell over his skirts but Yeosang let him win anyway, listened to a spooky mystery story to find out who was the killer and then played Halloween movie character charades with a bigger group. It was exhausting, all the mingling, all the energy it cost Yeosang, and his throat hurt from talking and laughing a lot, but it was all worth it when Seonghwa glowed by his side and hooked their arms into each other to walk around the buffet to find some snacks.

They stumbled over Jongho there, who had joined San for a wreath-making competition that Yeosang had suggested to Wooyoung. His fingers expertly wove plastic flowers into beautiful patterns, like a surgeon swinging his needle. Yeosang slipped away while Seonghwa chatted with Yunho to check on him.

"How are the festivities going? Not too loud?" He asked him, lowering his voice so no one would be weirded out. Seonghwa had already noticed that Jongho was present, but he hadn't commented on him aside from a curious look. Yeosang sticking to his side was answer enough for him.

What a relief.

"It's fun. Very different from what I know, but I learn a lot from watching," Jongho replied, as San groaned in frustration on the other side of the table. His stubby fingers did not have the grace to weave anything prettily.

"Tell me anytime if you want to try out a game. We can play together and I'll explain it to you," Yeosang offered, but he was just as happy when Jongho waved him off and concentrated on his task. He was in work mode, somehow utterly focused, with a frown on his face, and nothing could break his concentration.

Yeosang didn't want to be seen with Jongho too much, so he wouldn't send the wrong signals to Seonghwa. But he was happy to see Jongho to have a good time.

This was enough of an answer. So Yeosang turned around to return to Seonghwa and check on him. Maybe go out to see the cats and catch a breath of fresh air. Besides, Yeosang's flat was empty while Yunho watched over Jongho, so...

But no, Seonghwa wasn't San. There were no hasty hands, giggles between kisses as they got stuck in their clothing. Seonghwa deserved everything and more, all the romance.

Before Yeosang could get to his personal sun, a hand tapped on his shoulder to get his attention. He peered up at a tall man, no one he knew, but he grinned a handsome smile at Yeosang, which Yeosang smiled back.

"Hey there... I couldn't help but notice what a cute pharaoh you are. Are you with anyone?" He flirted and Yeosang's cheeks warmed, flattered by the attention.

"Oh, uh... Do we know each other?" He double-checked, just in case he was forgetting someone he should be knowing. The glint in the guy's eyes could mean they were acquainted, but Yeosang couldn't place his finger on it.

"I'm a friend of Wooyoung's friend. How about it? Wanna get a drink together in private?"

It was a bit eerie how he said the very same thing Yeosang was just thinking about, but he didn't try to let it show on his face. With a polite smile, he turned to leave.

"No, thanks," he said, simply not interested in getting to know another person when he had all hands full with the ones he knew and Seonghwa was waiting.

But the guy caught his shoulder, spinning him back around. His grasp was firm, not harsh, but certainly decided. His bright eyes studied Yeosang's insecure expression and his costume.

"Hey. I mean it. Come along, I'll treat you," he grinned, insisting to get a chance.

Was this what Seonghwa felt like with all the people who were at his feet tonight?

Again, Yeosang just smiled and turned from him.

"I already have someone, so-"

The grip suddenly tightened, making Yeosang's words die in his throat. Suddenly, the stranger didn't seem kind anymore, and a warning shone in his eyes as he subtly pushed Yeosang in the direction of the door.

"Come on, don't make this hard on both of us," he warned, about to shove Yeosang outside despite his will, when two hands reached in between them. Tanned fingers seized the wrist of the stranger, plucking it off Yeosang as if grabbing a child. A paler hand shoved a golden mirror into the face of the man, making him pull back from his own face.

While Yeosang stepped into the bulk of Jongho by his side, spooked by the sudden shift in mood, Seonghwa crossed his arms on his other side.

"He said no. I heard it clearly," he pointed out, and the stranger huffed. His glare at Yeosang was no longer taken with him.

"Police are present tonight so you better leave by yourself before I tattle on you," Seonghwa warned him and begrudgingly, the guy disappeared in the crowd.

Jongho wordlessly checked on Yeosang, and Seonghwa also turned to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"I'll tell Wooyoung about him. Take a little break over at your place, hm? I'll come collect you."

Yeosang wasn't feeling like partying so much anymore, but he nodded. It was about time to catch a breath from the alcohol and the noise.

"We'll go over to my home," he told Jongho, and the god nodded, pleased with that information.

"Good. Because I need to talk to you." He didn't say why, but he made sure Yeosang made it out of the party and into his own home while Wooyoung took care of his guests first.