Sealoweenie [week 4]

At last, Curran had figured out what to do with the sheet. It looked more like a superhero's cape than a ghost's mantle considering how it was tied around their shoulders, but what mattered was that their paws were free, perfect to be filled with various dishes and cookware. Kitka had not hesitated to put them to work, burdening them with all manner of baked goods to be distributed at the food tables; then it had been putting up decorations, little paper bats and pumpkin lanterns; after that came the goodie bags, tying (im)perfect little ribbons around bundles of treats under the guidance of a seal who had definitely not realized how much time it would take to do all these by themself.

Party prep, as it turned out, was a lot of work.

"Volunteerism is good for you!" Kitka had chirped as she held the ladder for a seal putting up the last of the string lights. "It builds character!" But by the time guests had begun filtering into the foggy square, Curran was feeling like they'd had enough character development to last them the season. As the crowd thickened and chatter filled the streets, the sheet was untied and returned to its rightful place over Curran's head, a thin but effective shield against what was ramping up to be an overwhelming night of 'fun'. Thankfully the crooked eye holes were enough to see the snack table by, and one over-generous plate of treats later (they felt they'd earned it as Kitka's little errand seal, after all) they were disappearing around the corner of the general store, in search of a little hiding spot to enjoy their spoils.

Solitude was best found tonight on the end of a dock, a short walk away from the party. A number of boats had come in from the surrounding towns to enjoy the festivities; most sat unoccupied as their owners sought out the party, and Curran found a quiet spot on a full-up dock to sit with their plate and see if Kitka's claims about her superior apple-based recipes had any truth to them. They were just about to take a bite when they paused, however, tall ears perked sharply at a creak behind them.

Ah. That one again.

Kitka had been happy to leave the heap of sheet ghost where they lay after their confrontation on the way to the party, and Curran hadn't been interested in questioning that. Now they could feel the fur on their tail rising, puffing up an already enormous cloud--had the would-be ghost come to seek revenge? Would Curran be able to forgive if they were pushed into the water with a full plate of uneaten food??

But the ghost, now spotted, made no such move. "Uh. Hi. Sorry about earlier."

Unaccustomed to apologies, Curran hesitated.

Despite having a covered face, the ghost managed to look uncomfortable. "I guess we sheet ghosts gotta stick together. So I wanted to say. I like your costume. Real good stuff."

".... Thank you." There was a long moment of silence before some friend-making advice Kitka had once given them rang through Curran's head. "Um, do you want to try some apple cake....?"

The ghost was sitting next to them in an instant, one paw already snaking out from under the sheet. "Oh thank god. I thought you'd never ask. Party's all out already."

Feeling only a tiny bit used, Curran offered their plate.