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Frog is trustworthy.
And I kinda love that she nicknamed SB.
I rub at my burning eyes. “He’s in love with his friend.”
Frog grimaces. “At least he admitted it? He seems honest.”
That’s true. And it’s not like I don’t have feelings for Donnelly right now. I’m not so innocent. My phone pings again.
StaleBread89: You still want to go to the convention together? As friends ??
I stare at the lobster emoji for a beat. It’s so random that it makes me laugh.
Illyana_Dallas222: Lobster friends?
StaleBread89: Those are the best kind of friends??
I tell Frog. “I think I might go to a convention this December.”
“Really?” She smiles. “Where is it?”
“San Francisco.”
Her eyes light up.
I message SB.
Illyana_Dallas222: Let’s do it ??
StaleBread89: ??????
LOREN HALE’S COSTUME LIST
It’s my birthday. Which means I expect everyone to abide by this list for the night. Theme: Halloween Hellfire Gala
I’ve chosen your costume. That’s right. You are to appear as the superhero that I HAVE PICKED for you. There is a comic called X-Men: Hellfire Gala. Do you need to read this? No, this is Halloween Hellfire Gala. MY version. MY birthday.
BUT, if you do read the comic—I love you 50% more than your fellow cousin/aunt/uncle/whoever who did not read the comic.
Don’t think too hard about my selections (some are more “personality” accurate than others, and the relationships between certain superheroes I’m disregarding completely in my picks). If you need help finding a costume or making one, you can contact Queen Rose or my assistant Kevin Turner at 215-555-8909.
I have spared your significant others and the security team. I don’t care what they wear as long as they’re IN costume. Brownie points for choosing a superhero.
NOTES
Don’t arrive shirtless. No one wants to see that, most especially ME.
No pets can attend. Frey Manor is not a pet-friendly venue. (Ben, don’t think about bringing your cockatoo Theodore, and my Hale children, no Newfies.)
NO CIGARETTES. I don’t care if your superhero smokes. This is not a Frey Manor policy. This is a Loren Hale Hates Smoking policy. This includes vapes, cigars, etc.
If you have complaints about your costume, I have a few alternatives in mind. Call me, text me, I’m always here for you.
Sulli and Jane can prioritize comfort over style, and I expect no one to give them shit for it.
THE LIST
Listed from oldest to youngest, according to families, so none of you can think I have favorites. (JK, I definitely have favorites.)
ABBEYS
Garrison Abbey: Angel (Note: please wear a shirt.)
Willow Abbey: Rogue
Vada Abbey: Kate Pryde
COBALTS
Connor Cobalt: Colossus
Rose Cobalt: Emma Frost
Jane Cobalt: Captain Britain
Charlie Cobalt: Northstar
Beckett Cobalt: Gambit Might be working or arrive late after Sleeping Beauty performance (Note: your costume may be shirtless, but please wear a shirt. If you run out of time to dress up, you are the only one who gets a costume pass from me.)
Eliot Cobalt: Pyro
Tom Cobalt: Cannonball
Ben Cobalt: Rictor
Audrey Cobalt: Khoura
HALES
Loren Hale: Cyclops
Lily Hale: Marvel Girl (You’re the best, love)
Maximoff Hale: Madrox
Luna Hale: Polaris
Xander Hale: Alexander Summers (Had to give you your namesake, bub)
Kinney Hale: Laura Kinney (Also your namesake, my lil Slytherin)
Ripley Hale (aka fav grandson): Lockheed
MEADOWS
Ryke Meadows: Daken (Note: this is the EASIEST costume, bro. You’re welcome.)
Daisy Meadows: Dazzler
Sullivan Meadows: Aurora
Winona Meadows: Gloriana
STOKES
Samuel Stokes: Mister Sinister (Don’t disappoint me, Sammy)
Poppy Stokes: Mystique
Maria Stokes: Magik (Note: bummed you can’t make it, but we all understand. Lily and I and the Hale fam are all excited for your movie premiere next year.)
24
PAUL DONNELLY
Halloween. Spooky day made even spookier by being Loren Hale’s birthday. When I was a little kid, most of my Halloweens were spent with my grandmom. She’d pass out early with a cigarette pinched between her fingers, and I’d be left to greet trick-or-treaters at our apartment door.
Don’t know why I didn’t just ignore the knocks and let the kids pass by. Because we never had the money for candy, and it didn’t feel right handing out nothing. So I’d draw these little cartoon figures on the back of Wawa napkins and when some kid came to the door, I’d give him one. Got my ass beat a few times by the bigger kids for not having a fucking Snickers bar to give away. What was worse: the kids trick-or-treating all lived in the same apartment, so I got myself a reputation as that smelly kid who thought his doodles were better than candy.
Despite all that, I like Halloween.
And those idiots just didn’t know that I might have smelled bad, but my doodles were worth at least three Snickers bars back then.
I’ve told that story to Farrow a couple times when I was drunk, and again tonight in the parlor of an old Victorian mansion called the Frey Manor.
For Xander’s dad’s birthday, we’re up in northern PA. He rented out this place. Built in the late 1800s, George Frey—the man of the house—owned a rolling mill, used for the production of iron and steel. He had four sons. A wife, who was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Pennsylvania. They all died off the property, but their lineage swears the original Freys still walk the Manor.
