"Very funny," Xander remarked, not yet prepared to find himself in Sunnydale still dressed for a toga party, 'I guess st is happening now. At least I'm already at the costume shop."
"Can I help you?" Ethan asked, showing a bit of surprise at an already-costumed customer.
"Yes," Xander replied, pulling the amulet out to settle on the front of his clothes, "I've been asked to be a participant in your little soiree tonight, and that I would be provided with whatever I selected."
"Indeed?" Ethan asked the man dressed to match the coin, "By?"
"Janus…" Xander sighed and gave Ethan a disapproving look.
"Ah, in that case…anything special? And aren't you one of the Slayers friends?"
"Different reality, as you'd expect as the local version of me doesn't make a habit of conversing directly with gods. And I'm not really feeling adventurous, maybe something that would interact well with what my counterpart is wearing?"
"I believe he was dressed up as a soldier of some sort, rather boring sad to say. He seemed to have more imagination then most."
"Hmm," Xander considered, knowing of the next year facing his other self as he stared at superhero costumes, "What physical changes do the costumes effect? If I made my alter-ego go as Captain America, or such, would he get the physique to go with it?"
"If I boosted the magic, that might do it, and if not mistaken there was a potion or such, was there not?"
"Yes, a serum, so what do you think of Captain America outdoing the slayer to the surprise of the vampires tonight? And if she survives, would she live it down?"
"Hmm, if you have him start to drink the serum as you feel the magic begin, and he's already in the suit? It not only will give him the physique, but perhaps it will stay afterwards."
"Excellent, exactly what I'd hoped, a little bit of chaos lingering after the night is over and I leave."
"Also, were their rich girls in here, real snobs?"
"Oh yes, one of them named after Goneril?"
"Cordelia, the other daughter of Lear."
"Ah, yes, her and a snippy blonde friend are going as Xena and her companion, I think, I never watch the show. Why?"
"I'm thinking you need to have Xena and Joxor to balance, and maybe we can get the Willow of this line, and the Slayer's vampire to fill the bill, add to the confusion?" Xander pretended to consider, "And if they survive, any consequences might be amusing."
"I'll get the three costumes ready while you make your own selection," Ethan smiled, 'It's good to have some one to share this with; too bad Ripper's a Watcher for now.'
Xander looked through the costumes, making up his mind not only for this one but the next ten. Smiling, he noticed what appeared to be an authentic longbow in excellent shape, plenty of arrows, a narrow great sword more like an extended long sword, and across the room, a large scarlet swath of cloth just the right size to cover things. He gathered the items together, and when Ethan left the back room he noticed and smiled.
"Ah, I didn't expect an American to make the reference, and excellent choice as you already have the physique for it."
"Mind if I borrow a cloak so I can go out in something a little more substantial?"
"Not a problem, and they are already for you, but remember to remove the cloak by six o'clock, as when the sun is low enough on the horizon, I'll activate the entertainment."
"Excellent, and now, just to really make it interesting, let me have something for 'Delia' so I can give it to a rich girl my other self would never have a chance with."
Down the street, Alexander changed into the Captain America costume himself, and repackaged everything, wrote notes and such to set into motion an interesting night.
"Hey, you Harris?" a large man in a Captain America costume called to Xander.
"Yeah, what can I do for you?"
"I'm from Ethan's Costumes, and going through our counts, it turns out one of you three in there the other day were customer one thousand, so I have some better costume choices for you."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Mr. Rayne guessed at the sizes for the three of you, but decided to have a little fun with it, and through in an extra costume as well."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, and he kinda noticed that your friend made you unhappy going on about some old guy, so he decided to focus on you."
"Cool, so what do we have?"
"Well, this one's yours, and don't balk, the weapons are real and you get to keep them; the second one's for Bunny…"
"Buffy."
"…and it's because of that Cordelia chick; this came from the actual set and if she wears it, she keeps it. That's the deal for everybody; ya gotta wear 'em to keep 'em. The redhead's is skimpy, but the stuff is real, and might be worth something. Beside, the way she looks at you, she'll do it just so you finally pay some attention to her."
"Now…"
"Don't interrupt, I'm not saying anything else, though she would know the costume, right? Thought so. And the last one is Joxor, and the boss threw in perfumed notes between the two lovebirds. His is signed 'Your Mighty Warrior' and you don't have to say it isn't Hercules. Hers just asks him to wear it for her. So?"
"I'll take it."
The night was an interesting one for Steve Rogers; he'd had a note in hand to be at a certain address at a certain time to destroy an idol that would save the town, but if there earlier, would destroy it.
He'd rescued many that night, and he as Captain America had managed to save many people from little monsters and teenaged villains. The shouting and yelling of many people with swords chasing after 'vampires' were sure signs he really needed to book that vacation his friends encouraged him to finally take.
He walked in, on time, and after rendering an irate shopkeeper with a betrayed look unconscious, he destroyed the bust.
And Alexander Harris transitioned to the next Halloween and World.