Author's Pick of the Whenever: If you haven't seen it already, go see Dark Knight in a movie theater near you. Trust me, it's worth every cent you pay to get in.

And for Pete's sake, people (er, politely speaking)—I appreciate all of your tacit support, but really…if you're going to read these drabbles, it would be nice to see some feedback as well: you know, loved it, hated it, liked this or that one better. Believe you me, written criticism is a lot more effective than unspoken criticism. Seriously.

35 Themed Drabbles—2nd Anniversary Challenge

Ala Verity

2. Cotton

Drabble #1 (Word Count: 618)

"But I don't want polyester."

"I'm very sorry, sir, but all we have is what you see in the store today. And we happened to receive a very large shipment of polyester yesterday."

"I'll only take cotton."

"But sir, we won't be importing another shipment of cotton wares until next month at the earliest. It's simply not profitable at the time being to—"

"Oh, it's profitable, all right."

"Excuse me?"

"I assure you that I can make it very worth your while if you order the cotton goods and have them ready for me to pick up by tomorrow at noon."

"Sir, I do not think that will be possible—"

"Then let me show you how I am going to make it very possible for you. I will pay double the price you are asking for, including shipment costs and another other inconveniences it might cause you. I will buy out your store. I will buy every single damn polyester product on the face of the earth if that is the only way to get that cotton shipment. I will give you enough money to see your children and your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren through college while you are in the sauna of your summer resort in Jamaica on permanent retirement from this damned job, and I will do it by taking out this little blue book that will change your entire life with the simple signing of a name. But I will have it, understood?"

"…Y-yes, sir. I understand."

"Good. Now when can I come in to pick up that order?"

"I—I think we have one last box in the back with the item you are looking for, if you would just give me a moment t-to—"

"Take your time. And Araki-san?"

"Ye-yes…?"

"The service here is absolutely impeccable. I will be sure to visit again soon."

"Th-thank you, sir, for your gulp wonderful patronage."

"Oh…Mamo-chan! It's lovely!" Usagi lifted the pink teddy from its box and held it up in front of her. "Where did you get it? Ooh, it looks expensive!"

Mamoru smiled and draped one arm around his wife's shoulder, pulling her up close against him. "Just a little something I picked up along the way for you."

"Ohh, I love it—wait until the girls hear what a romantic second anniversary celebration we've had! The candlelit dinner, the serenade on the beach, this gift—oh, thank you, Mamo-chan! It's perfect!"

He smiled and brushed his lips lightly against her forehead. "Happy anniversary, Usako."

"Happy anniversary, Mamo-chan!"

They sat side by side on the pink plush couch for a moment in silence, the light from the cheerily roaring fireplace dancing across their faces as Usagi pressed her cheek against Mamoru's warm chest.

"Mamo-chan?" she murmured at last, peering contentedly up at him through demure eyes.

"Hmm?"

"How did you…" Usagi toyed coyly with a long strand of her golden hair. "I mean, did you really remember that I was allergic to polyester, even after all these years?"

"The thought never even crossed my mind."

"Mamo-chan!"

Mamoru chuckled and lifted her chin so that he could draw in the warmth of her expression. "I guess I thought about it a little bit, then. Maybe."

"Only maybe?"

"Yes. Maybe."

"Oh…Oh."

Mamoru bent over until their noses were nearly touching and whispered, "But I think that was just because I was too busy thinking about what we would do with that gift after you got it."

Usagi's eyes went wide.

"Oh," was all she could say.

And that was all she needed to say. She looked ravishing in her pink cotton teddy that night.

At least, while she was still wearing it.

Drabble #2 (Word Count: 551)

"Just shove some cotton-balls into it."

"Mako-chan!"

The tall brunette shrugged. "Hey, the way I see it, it's just a bunch of rags sewn together with stuffing inside. I could make a new one for you in a jiffy—"

"I don't want a new one, Mako-chan!" Usagi exclaimed, looking scandalized. "This is the Tuxedo Kamen doll Mam—I mean, that I won at the fair! You can't replace it just like that!"

Makoto raised an eyebrow at her friend, who was clutching the deflated superhero doll tightly in both hands. "Remind me again, which game exactly did you win it at?"

"I told you already, it was…erm, whack-a-mole! Yeah! Whack-a-mole! Er…that is what I said last time, right?"

"Riiiight." When Usagi continued to look at her with eyes wider than an expectant puppy's, she shrugged her shoulders again. "Well, I don't know what you want me to do, Usagi-chan. The only thing I can think of is buying some of that woven cotton, it's better quality and bound to last longer than regular cotton-balls, but it's bound to be expens—"

Usagi's face brightened. "Great! I'll do that, then. Where can I get this, er, woven cotton?"

After Makoto had pointed her friend in the right direction, and after Usagi had skipped off with the dangly-headed Tuxedo Kamen in hand, humming happily to herself as she pranced down the street, Makoto let out the shout of laughter that she had been holding back. She watched her friend disappear around the corner with a smug feeling of satisfaction, and was still standing at the arcade entrance when Minako walked in, looking slightly bewildered.

"Mako-chan?"

"Oh, hey Minako!"

"I just passed by Usagi-chan on the street," the blonde remarked, passing off a box full of pastries to Makoto and peering down the street in the direction Usagi had darted off in. "She didn't even notice me at all! And I was carrying her favorite—chocolate cream-filled eclairs. You don't think something's wrong, do you?"

"Nope. She's just gone to the store to buy some cotton stuffing to fix up her Tuxedo Kamen doll with."

"Usagi-chan, mending things?" Minako swooned dramatically into the nearest seat. "What has the world come to?"

"She squeezed it too hard."

Minako grinned. "Fantasizing about a certain superhero again, is she? I've told her time and time again, Tuxedo Kamen has definitely got the hots for her, but will she listen? Nooo—"

"You know, I don't think this is about him anymore."

Minako quirked an eyebrow at her friend. "No?"

"Nope. I think this has to do with something else."

"And what's that?"

Makoto's face broke into a grin as she turned towards the door, through which a familiar-looking figure had just entered the cool arcade. "Let's just say that Usagi's about as good at playing whack-a-mole as she is at lying. Let's go ask Mamoru where she really got the doll from, shall we?"

They both chortled and made a beeline for the man in the hideous green jacket sitting at the counter, prepared to extort some confessions from him before his afternoon cup of coffee had time to really kick in and keep him from saying something that he would really regret the next day when the girls ran to Usagi with their newfound gossip.

Only three words…

…Why so SERIOUS?

(Cheers.)