His feelings about the holiday, and the costume, still rather pococurante, Brian handed the outfit back to his girlfriend. Nodding in the direction of the pile of costumes she'd had been going through when he'd found her, he asked, "So what's with the other costumes? Backups in case you could get me to agree to go in drag?"
Bethany, hanging the outfit back up next to the other, shook her head and explained, "Nah. So far my only other choice was the moose costume. I figured if you didn't go for either of those, I'd either find something different or, failing that, maybe suggest that you chose something. I was searching through that pile because of a tag I didn't understand," and reaching for the outfit with the white fox tail, she showed him a tag affixed to the inside of the shirt.
Briefly, he thought about making a joke when he heard his girlfriend suggest maybe letting him decide on a costume, but instead reached out and peered at the tag. Reading "bodysuit 13 included with purchase" Brian immediately felt a bit of dread settling over him as he thought he knew exactly what the tag meant. Reaching for the other outfit, he searched it before finding a tag hanging inside the shorts that stated the same thing. Staring at the costumes, seriously considering whether it was now a good thing that he'd agreed, Brian quietly told Bethany, "I think I know what that means."
Bethany, hearing the worried tone in her boyfriend's voice, glanced at the outfit, released the tag and asked, "What?"
A quick motion for her to follow, Brian led her back towards the front of the shop, but stopped before they had gone to far beyond the back. Indicating the open display, he told her, "I think it means those. But, there is something, I dunno, off, weird, about them. When I was looking at them before I found you, I touched one and it feels, well, it feels like it is alive."
"That's silly," Bethany retorted and reaching out, she touched the nearest bodysuit, but immediately withdrew her hand like she had been scalded. Glancing at her boyfriend, a odd looking crossing her face, she stated, "Maybe we should chose something different."
Not liking the idea of having to purchase one of the weird bodysuits, but thinking it would make sense, as the outfit would look odd without it if he tried to wear what wear clearly girl's clothes, Brian weighed the options. On one hand, they would only wear them once, which to his reasoning didn't justify buying them. Yet, buying them he thought would finish out the costume and studying the different bodysuits, he thought that maybe it would also hid the fact that he was a dude dressed in drag. After a bit of mentally going back and forth over different pros and cons, he shrugged and told his girlfriend, "I guess it is up to you. But I am certain one of these bodysuits go with the outfits you selected."
A look of thoughtfulness crossing her face, Bethany gazed at the bodysuits and after a moment stated, "I guess we'll just have to find something else, as these seem way to weird, even for me," and turning away, she moved over to a table and began examining what Brian thought were dog and cat collars.
Not liking the idea of dressing as some animal, especially if he had to be the back end, Brian gave the bodysuits one final glance before joining Bethany. Looking at the collars, and discovering that they were indeed animal collars, but also harnesses for smaller animals, like ferrets, Brian leaned over and gave his girlfriend a quick kiss. Telling her, "I'll be up front," he cast one final glance at the items on the table before turning away and slowly ambling up front, examining the various tables, displays and racks as he went.