Celebwen Telcontar: This is a Halloween fic that wouldn't leave me alone. Xander chooses an… unusual costume, and the results are… quite different.
Balrog: And what is the new costume?
Celebwen Telcontar: You'll just have to see. Enjoy, people!
CT
The costume was perfect. It was black, a gleaming jet-black, from collar to boots. A symbol flashed on one collar lapel, set off by an entirely different symbol on the other. A black cap with a third insignia was sitting on the top of the collar. A scarlet armband was sewn on the left arm of the sable uniform. A pistol lay in a holster and twined silver shoulder boards gleamed on the uniform jacket, as did multiple medals.
"It's perfect!!" Alexander Lavelle Harris cried out in jubilation. Other shoppers looked odd at his outburst, but then ignored it when they saw that it was the school geek.
"Yes. Wonderful, isn't it?" a voice purred in his ear. Xander turned to find the shop's connoisseur looking sadly at the black uniform.
"Uhh… Yah, but I can't afford it. It's magnificent."
"A perfect replica. Even comes with spectacles."
"Wow. Amazing. Well, I… I guess I'll just take a toy gun."
"No you will not, young man. I have been to many different towns, and this costume refuses to sell. It is uncanny."
"Well, not many people would buy… that in any case."
"I guess people are too afraid of their history to recall that the man who wore this uniform was great."
"If I had the money, I'd buy it."
"That would be wonderful, my lad. Now; you are with these two lovely ladies, are you not?" The storeowner indicated Buffy and Willow, who were looking over different costumes.
"Ye-es…"
"Then I can definitely give you a break on the price. I hate to see something so beautiful go to waste… Take it for ten dollars."
"Ten—ten dollars!? Are you crazy?! Something like that could sell for five grand, not ten dollars!"
"I know, young man, however I am willing to part with it. To tell you the truth, it does tend to drive away the clientele."
"I would imagine. Okay, ten dollars?"
"Ten. No question. No tax on it even; I just want it out of here." The storeowner took the uniform down from in its case, and handed it to Xander.
"Thanks," Xander said, tears in his eyes. This would be the best Halloween costume ever! It was the meaning of Halloween to frighten everyone else; and everyone was out to terrify the children! It would be wonderful to terrify the adults instead this year! The storeowner handed him the needed glasses, thick and horn rimmed. He placed them in a pocket of the uniform as he handed over three ones, twenty quarters, three dimes, ten nickels, and one hundred and twenty pennies. The storeowner sighed at the numerous change, but drew it all into his register, grinding his teeth when the pennies wouldn't all fit. Xander left after appologising for the pennies, and all but ran down the street with Buffy and Willow. What a costume! This would be great!!
Celebwen Telcontar: This is going to be interesting.
Balrog: Who is he dressing up as? Please tell me that it's not Glorfindel!
Celebwen Telcontar: Glorfindel doesn't dress in a black uniform.
Balrog: Gandalf then.
Celebwen Telcontar: Mithrandir doesn't dress in black either, but in grey before the incident with your half brother's daughter-in-law's cousin, and white afterwards.
Balrog: Oh. Right. Please review, people!
Celebwen Telcontar: Indeed. Please review.
CT