Project Halloween

Every year the question is the same. “What should we be for Halloween?”

Every year Nicholas has the answer.

This year’s answer: Expedition 33.

For those not living their best gaming life, Expedition 33 is a gorgeous RPG where a team of misfits sets out on an impossible mission across a painted continent. Nicholas would be Gustave, the expedition leader. Pokin would be Lune, the elegant sharpshooter. And me?

Esquie.

The most powerful being in the world. Can soar through the heavens. Can dive beneath the sea. Beloved by children everywhere. Also, canonically lazy.

I have never felt so seen by a video game character. Except that last part.

Now, Pokin doesn’t do simple. She found actual sewing patterns online with instructions for crafting the Expedition 33 shoulder patches from scratch. We’re talking piping, lining, and real gold leaf patterning. Hand-applied. On black fabric. Like we’re tailors in 18th-century France.

Nicholas had to cut out the intricate designs on the Cricut.

Nicholas ironing transfer patterns onto black fabric — Carefully peeling the transfer. He only swore twice at this point.

Then came the piping. Gold fabric pinned to black, every edge precise.

Then the gold leaf. By hand. Press, peel, pray.

Hands pressing gold leaf onto black costume fabric — The gold leaf phase. Also known as the ‘why did I agree to this’ phase.

The workspace looked like a craft store exploded in the living room. Sewing machine, spools of metallic thread, gold fragments everywhere. Nicholas was finding gold flakes in his hair for a week.

But the results? Not too shabby at all.

Nicholas as Gustave, Pokin as Lune, and PoOn in costumes — Gustave, Lune, and a K-pop demon hunter. PoOn committed.

The costumes actually looked incredible. The gold leaf shoulder patches, the dark jackets, the whole vibe. Nicholas’s Gustave coat with the purple vest underneath was especially good. Pokin’s Lune outfit with the white ruffled shirt and face markings? She went all in.

And then there was me.

Sumi Bear dressed as Esquie from Expedition 33 — The most powerful being in the world. Obviously.

Custom Expedition 33 headband patch, handmade by Nicholas himself. I looked magnificent.

We hosted the party at Bear Falls Resort, naturally. My bud’s mom flew down from Oregon for it. She came as a flamingo because she loves flamingos. I respect a woman who knows her brand.

Nicholas and Pokin in Expedition 33 costumes with JJ in a flamingo costume — The expedition party picks up an unusual recruit.

Outside, Pokin had Nicholas set up this giant inflatable Halloween tree in the yard. It has a screaming face, clawed branches, and glowing orange eyes. It looks like something that would eat you in The Witcher.

I love it.

Giant inflatable Halloween tree with screaming face in the yard — New yard guardian. He stays up year-round if I have any say in it.

Pokin and PoOn spent days prepping food for the party, because of course they did. Hand-drawn ghost cookies. Cakes that had no business looking that good at a Halloween party. And the highlight: cake pops. Pumpkins, zombies, and mummies, all hand-decorated. The girls baked them, Nicholas helped with the dipping and decorating.

Halloween dessert table with cake pops, ghost cookies, brownies, and cakes — Black Sesame Red Bean Butter Mochi at a Halloween party. Just look at those cakes. Pokin’s food game is unmatched.

Those mummy ones with the googly eyes? Perfect. The zombie ones were green and unsettling in the best way. And the pumpkin ones had little pretzel stems, which is the kind of detail that makes you realize these people take dessert as seriously as I do.

Not a bad Halloween at all.

Esquie out.