I would like to thank Emily Thayer for her assistances and editing for the second chapter of A Man of the World. She provided excellent feedback based on my outline, feedbacks, and notes. Created and Story by Allen Knot.
North Hollywood
10/31/2017
While Arthur never typically makes elaborate plans for Halloween, this year he had received an invite from Victoria. Considering that they had made up recently, even if it was still fresh from a few days ago, he decided to go along with it. As it was a costume party, Arthur knew just what he would be wearing, because it was something Victoria had approached him about before, to which he had reluctantly agreed. It is a Batman costume, a smooth fit in the arms and chest, with a detailed, accurate cowl and cape. Victoria knows his tastes pretty well, remembering that Arthur said he likes Batman, while Arthur thinks of it more as doing a favor for his friend by attending the party.
He met Victoria at his place as they planned to take his car together. After discussing their costumes, she had come in the perfect one. A tight-fitting option for her, too. Catwoman's, but with an even more daringly open chest, no sleeves, and only the slightest mask to cover her identity. For anyone who knew her, it would be pretty obvious it was Victoria behind it.
That was made even more clear when they arrived at the party, and Victoria was recognized as soon as she stepped out of the car. It was a friend of hers, Vanessa Hudgens. She was standing with two guys who were both in costumes, one a white tux with a red bird mask, and the other a gold and black jumpsuit. Arthur could not place what the costumes were supposed to be, let alone who the three of them were. He certainly had a long way to go toward learning about everyone in Victoria's circle, but that was a task for another time as he did not fancy interrupting her conversation.
After Victoria rejoined him, she was quick to point out the identities of the three, Vanessa, Ross Butler, and Pierson Fode. Arthur says nothing, amusing Victoria.
"You can tell me you have no idea who they are now," she teases, but Arthur only smiles back.
"You know, I am not just saying that. I have just never been involved with this crowd."
Victoria shrugs off the subject, instead walking with Arthur closer to the center of the party, sure to make her introductions along the way, stopping every once in a while. Arthur was happy to wait along the perimeter of the conversation, never stepping in, and notably never being welcomed into it either. If anything, Arthur figured he would come off as polite.
Soon enough, they step inside the actual house on the property, hearing some rap music pounding through what must be an elaborate sound system, for a house of this size.
"So, whose house is this, actually?" Arthur asks, before they are approached, two young women looking up to Victoria.
"Hey," they trail off excitedly, introducing themselves as Kelli Berglund and Olivia Holt. Victoria knew both of them, congratulating Kelli over the completion of a recent project, before Arthur interjected over Olivia.
"I heard you are getting involved in an upcoming series for Marvel, right?" he asks, Olivia switching her gaze and peering up at him.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Did not really think that news was out there yet," she says, looking between her two peers, "Who even knows about that except like, total nerds?"
The group laughs together, but Arthur is far from ashamed of a status like that. Separately, Victoria giggles, amused that Olivia is in for a surprise if she hooks up with Arthur. The stereotypical 'nerd' label would not stick then, not in the way that she thought.
"That sounds about right," he says, looking around the house. While he does, he notices that Kelli, standing just before him, has her eyes right on him. Staring through him, before Victoria says something and she snaps out of it.
The grounds were beautiful, like most places in the city there is expansive open-air area, an almost sickly modern twist to everything. Twisted metal sculptures included, in this case, though the fountain in the wading pool, which he could see from here over everyone was still intriguing to him. What got to him the most was how flat the whole house seemed, outside of the fact that it had an upper level everything seems to be visible from anywhere you stood. If anything, it was just a strange way to build a house.
Before another moment passed, Arthur notices that Kelli is grabbing his attention again, looking at him. He does not say anything when she links her arm with his, separating him and Victoria. Arthur looks back, seeing Victoria and Olivia standing together, cheerfully waving to him. For now, Arthur is happy to go along with this and see just where he ends up, even if he is not sure what is going on.
Walking through the party, it was easy for Arthur to cast glances around to the other partygoers. None seemed to be looking at him, and he did not recognize many, not that any of them recognized him. If he had asked, Kelli could have listed plenty of them off. Pop stars, like Hailee Steinfeld or Demi Lovato. Actors and actresses, like Sophie Turner, Timothee Chalamet, and Ariel Winter. None that Arthur knew personally, but none that knew Arthur, just plenty that ended up staring as Kelli mounted the stairs, leading Arthur along with her, side by side.
Arthur could not easily say what the added attention was for, as they disappeared to the second level, left alone by the crowd of people. The music dulled further, still pumping through the halls but only in murmurs, faint whispers of what it was before. Arthur's attention is more easily drawn to Kelli now, and she seems to be a woman on a mission.
Now that they had a moment alone, Arthur took the time to look over the costume that Kelli was in, his own Batman costume still holding up through the awkward walk up the stairs. Hers had as well, without much trouble, a tight black sexy nurse costume, with red trim all around, and fishnet leggings with white crosses inside red circles. The sides were open, as well as the arms, the garment half-sleeved with black gloves ending at the elbows.
Before another moment passed, he is in the door, and it is closed behind him, leaving just himself and Kelli in the well-lit, overly modern bedroom. It was clearly a spare, there was little decorating the walls except for some strange, paneled art, an analog clock made of short metal bars that denoted the hours, with two dark wooden hands, one for the minutes, the other for the hours.