It Started With a Spinny

Right Clothes

Vee's flicking through the rack of shirts, examining another deep red one that's close – then she sees the deep maroon one.

"Found it!" She happily exclaims, picking it out to examine it more critically in the light.

"Ooo," Hunter bounds up with his arms full of vests, "it's perfect!"

Vee frowns.

"It isn't perfect?"

She tilts her head, "It's, well —Boromir's shirt is more a deep wine red, or maybe garnet – it has a little purple in it, like your eyes."

Hunter's deep mauve eyes widen, and he looks around self-consciously.

"It's okay," Vee soothes, "no-one's going to notice."

Hunter hunches inwards, pulling his grey beanie down further over the pointed ends of his ears. "I know, it's just," he awkwardly laughs, "first time in town and I don't even have my old mask to give me confidence is all, haha!" There's no humour in his laugh.

Vee hangs the maroon shirt over the other clothes on her arm, reaching out to hold Hunter's arm as she soothes: "I promise it'll be okay! Worst case scenario: people think you're wearing your costume a few days early, that's all."

Hunter nods nervously, "I, think I may have found everything?"

"Oh?"

He holds up the vests for Vee to examine, letting her rifle through them one after another, checking off: "blacks for Boromir and Aragorn, brown for Frodo, light brown for Legolas... hmm who are we forgetting?"

"Willow and you."

"Right, well Willow just needs to wear baggy black under her cloak," she gestures to the loose black t-shirt and track pants over her arm. She frowns as she looks up at Hunter again, insisting: "You're sure you can make her cloak in time?"

"Definitely!" He beams, the gap in his teeth and the light in his eyes making him look like a kid in a candy store as he explains: "The fabric shop's web-sheet confirmed they have enough forest green for everyone's capes, and a dusty black I can weather for Willow's cloak." His smile fixes slightly.

Vee squeezes his arm, "Is there anything else you're worried about? If you need help-"

"I just," he frowns, "why does she want to be a villain?"

Vee smiles awkwardly, "Weeell, it can be fun to be ominous, especially if you've spent your whole life feeling... less than."

Hunter stares, "Of course! Then I'll make sure she's the most ominous Ring Wraith ever!"

Vee laughs, "Just make sure you save time for the capes too: you've only got two days, remember!"

He pffts dismissively, "That's just trimming hemming and adding a button for a clasp. If I had time I'd love to sew the subtle leaf patterns-"

"Hunter."

"I know, I know, just," he holds the vests up to his chest, "I'm, really grateful to be involved. Thank you!"

Vee squeezes his arm with a pained smile, "You're welcome! So," she perks, "you ready to try these all on?"

He nods excitedly, then frowns: "Shouldn't we wait for-"

The bell dings as the door of the thrift store opens, Amity striding in with her flowing white-blonde hair caught in the wind. She sees them and rushes over excitedly, "You were right! The Halloween shop had so many wigs!" She holds up a full bag, "A black one for Luz, straight brown for you Hunter, curly brown for Gus, and this one for-"