Sanders Sides (and more) One Shots

A Milliner's Menagerie

How do you expect someone with the ability to see the personalities of even the most introverted individuals to look? Certainly not like an emo archetype who came back from a Prince concert. And where do you expect to find such a person? Probably not struggling to fit in at a hat shop.

No matter what others might expect, millinery was such a career choice for Virgil Finbar. For as long as he could remember, he had a special trait passed down from his grandfather that skipped his mother: to see someone and have their whole personality flash before your eyes. He didn't want to draw attention to it, so he tried his best to distract himself from it every once in a while. One of his distractions, sewing, eventually led to making hats. After some time, he realized that no one could think much of it if he made hats that suited the personalities of his customers. His hat shop was small, but he felt proud, even proud enough to make a portfolio of the many hats he made; some for bookworms, some for music nuts, even some that serve as secret signs to arrest customers that fool everyone else with charisma.

One day, Virgil spent a slow part of the day fiddling with the fabrics until he heard the door open. He looked up and saw a gorgeous man who looked like he came from one of the wealthier families in town. Virgil saw this man as an extroverted, creative soul, but also acknowledged and need for validation.

"May I help you, sir?" Virgil asked.

"Yes, I'm Roman Ellington and I'd like for you to hurry up and make a hat as fabulous as I am," the man retorted as if Virgil would bend over backwards for a complicated order.

Virgil nodded and kept things professional as he slid a form for Roman to fill out and measured his head. Once Roman paid the down payment, Virgil chuckled to himself. It wasn't the first time someone came into his shop with an attitude, but he wasn't the biggest fan of driving people away as a cry for help (a habit he recognized all too well). He didn't want to call this customer out, so he decided giving Roman a little nudge would be much easier.

In between down time and other clients that were more pleasant, Virgil worked on a sun hat for Roman as well as another surprise. When Roman came in as a response to Virgil's call, he seemed pleased with the hat until he actually tried it on. When Roman wore the hat, he couldn't see anything.

"Is something the matter, sir?" Virgil asked feigning innocence.

"Are you kidding? This isn't my size!" Roman shouted before shoving the hat in Virgil's grip.

"Oh, my mistake, sir. I'll fix it if you don't mind waiting a little longer," Virgil stated.

Roman's face looked as red as the hat, but he took a deep breath and agreed.

For the next several weeks, Virgil would work on the hat for whom he liked to call "Gorgeous Face; Ugly Ego" in between better clients and held back chuckles every time Roman wore his product that was still too big. He almost felt sorry for Roman, but reminded himself of those Disney films that never brought the main characters to their goal or happiness until they learned their lesson.

It's not like Sitka told Kenai he orphaned an innocent bear cub, he thought to himself one day as he was fiddling with the fabrics.

Virgil heard the door open and saw a deflated Roman.

"Okay, who told you?" the man asked.

Virgil was genuinely confused by the question.

"Who told you? Did anyone tell you or is it just that obvious that I might be a bit...vain?" Roman elaborated.

"I take it you've heard it all before?" Virgil asked.

"Maybe once or twice...a day, but I always said self love never hurt anyone."

"I'm surprised that the hats didn't fit you. But, seriously, are you trying to make up for something?"

Roman looked to the side.

"No one else would tell me that I've done right with my talents. Why can't I just tell myself?"

"First of all, how are you going to show what you can do if you just deafen people by saying it over and over? Second of all, I think there's a way to tell yourself you're capable without having such a big head."

Roman looked like he was going to say something to Virgil, but kept his mouth shut. He just kept his head down and braced for his next reminder. Virgil grabbed a product from the back to place on Roman's head. When he directed the customer to the mirror, Roman saw not a giant sun hat, but a crown with rainbow gems and a red silk veil for a beautiful touch.

"I've been there, sort of. I knew you'd come around eventually," Virgil stated as he marveled at the final product.

"You know, I've never seen you outside the shop. How do you know what to make for people?" Roman asked curiously.

"I guess introverts can be good at reading people," Virgil excused.

Roman paid for the hat as well as leaving a slip of paper on the counter. He carefully hugged Virgil before he left. Virgil went to the counter and put away the money before noticing the paper Roman left behind. He almost dismissed it due to the idea that Roman forgot Virgil already had his number, but then he saw the note:

I know we don't know each other outside the shop, but if you want to, maybe we can change that. Shoot me a text if you want.  ~ Roman

Virgil smiled from the thought that maybe Roman truly had graduated from "Ugly Ego".