3. Outfit

It was time, it was finally time, it was past time, /way/ past time.

"Vervaaain!" Jaden called up the stairs, "If we don't go soon, they're going to run out of costumes!"

"They are not going to run out of costumes," Vervain called back, from the top of the stairs, making their way down to the ground floor. They glanced around for a moment before meeting Jaden's pleading gaze. "Alright. I've left you hanging long enough. Let's go." They made a shooing motion, waving Jaden towards the front door.

Jaden was out the door like a shot. They'd been waiting to go all day. They'd hurried through their chores, hurried through dinner, and hurried through clean-up after the meal, and then there was another agonizing wait for Vervain to do, whatever it was they were doing upstairs.

Usually, Jaden behaved more maturely than this, but there was something about this candy fueled holiday that brought out the impatient kit in them. Vervain hoped once they had their outfits picked out, the stripey kitsu's temperament would return to normal.

The pair walked along through the dying field of wildflowers, heading towards the heart of town. Vervain's nose picked up a faint floral scent as crushed dried blooms beneath their feet, seed pods with hooks and pointy bits sticking in the feathery fur around their ankles.

Jaden rushed ahead, bouncing on the balls of their feet, looking back at Vervain, then looking ahead for Sweetie's Tooth, the store that had just opened for the season. Vervain smiled at them, making the same shooing motion they had made at home, encouraging Jaden to run ahead. 

Jaden had insisted they go together, thinking that Vervain would never get around to going on their own, but once they were greeted by the warm town lights, the pull was too great, Vervain would catch up!

They entered the shop and looked around, a sea of sheet ghosts greeted them and they giggled with glee, rushing further into the store, already combing the racks. Jaden didn't know what they wanted to wear, but it had to be something awesome.

Vervain arrived a few minutes later, taking some time to brush as much of the grass bits and seed pods out of their ankle fur, even if they would have to do the same again when they got home, at least they wouldn't be tracking bits of plants all through the clothing stone.

Vervain, too, moved past the front of the store when they entered, past the small area reserved for kits' costumes and little pails for their candy treasures, past the plethora of livestock disguises. The perfect shade of pale purple had caught their eye. The decision was made in an instant. The witch dress, and matching hat plucked from the rack. Ver then turned to look for Jaden, spotting them in another row, two different costumes held in either hand.

"Need help choosing?" Vervain folded their chosen outfit over their arm, and peered between the green ninja and the pale pirate in Jaden's grip.

"Which one! Which is more awesome!?"

Vervain brought their hand to their chin, finger tapping at their lips, as if they had to think hard about it. They hummed and hawed between the two for several moments, Jaden bouncing from foot to foot as they thought.

"Ninja." Vervain declared, just before it seemed Jaden would burst from the suspense. 

Jaden pushed the pirate costume into Vervain's hands and rushed their prize to the front of the store. Vervain laughed softly to themself, properly hung the discarded outfit on the rack and went to join Jaden in line to pay.

(WC: 607)