"No, you don't need to dress up. I mean, I'm not going to. I haven't since I was a kid. Costumes are too much work. Some people probably will, but those people're always looking for an excuse to dress up. Most people won't, because they'll be too busy being concerned about getting drunk or high or finding someone to take home with them."

Despite his babbling, it doesn't miss his attention that there's something in Ned's voice that is concerning, somehow. Something strained, something uncomfortable. He's always been impulsive, but he's also always been surprisingly good at reading people, and he can tell that Ned's not entirely pleased by the idea.

"If you don't want to go, we don't have to go. I mean, nobody's going to miss me. Or we don't have to do anything at all. It's not like it's an important holiday. I just thought I'd ask, in case you were desperately sitting around wishing someone would invite you a lame Halloween party."