Slayers and Skullduggery

October 30th 1997

Xander looked about the shop, wondering if there was some way to make a costume with the meager change in his back pocket. He had planned on simply buying a toy gun to fit with the old fatigues that were in his closet, but that plan was destroyed earlier when in a moment of drunk inspiration had cut up the pants in an effort to make a bag, or drapes, or rug, or strips of cloth, which is what they ended up as.

Sighing to himself he glanced over at his two best friends and debated whether or not to go over there and add a witty comment or two, after all what was life without humor? He headed over to them and saw Buffy fawning over some sort of noblewoman's dress.

"It looks good Buff… but I prefer my women in spandex."

The pair rolled their eyes and looked at the boy behind them, Willow giving a giggle and Buffy saying, "look, Xander about earlier-"

"Do you mind Buffy, I'm trying to repress." Xander cut her off with a smirk to show he was kidding.

Playing along Buffy nodded once and said, "Alright, next time I'll let you get pummeled."

"Thank y-" Xander didn't even manage to finish his sentence before the pair were back fawning at the dress. Rolling his eyes he began wandering the store looking for something he could wear. He was nearing the counter when the shine of a pair of sunglasses caught his eyes. In a forgotten corner hung what looked like a tailor made suit with a fedora, a wig, a pair of sunglasses, white silk gloves, and the largest gray scarf he had ever seen.

"See something you like?" The voice from behind made Xander jump a foot into the air before seeing it was the owner of the store, Ethan something. When no answer was forthcoming from the frightened teen the middle-aged Englishman looked at what he was staring at and smiled. Oh the chaos that would be caused by such a drastic change would be a perfect end to the night. And if Ethan wasn't mistaken this young man was an associate of the Slayer. Putting a false smile on his face he told the boy, "Ah, I see you are looking at that costume! It is quite a brilliant one if I do say so myself. I cobbled all the part together in honor of a story my friend Rupert once wrote."

Xander looked at the smiling owner and back at the costume on the rack. He really wanted the costume but he didn't have enough mo- "Wait, Rupert? Do you mean Rupert Giles?"

Ethan's smile grew even wider. He quickly grabbed the costume from the rack and handed the thing to the boy, "If you are a friend of old Rupert then I want you to have this costume! Just be sure to show it to him after the night is done."

Xander nodded in thanks and took the costume and the card that had the information about what the character was. Looking at it he read: Skullduggery Pleasant, P.I.