“I’m just on my lunch break,” you say, glancing ground the shop. “I saw your ad the other day, I’m surprised you were right across the street.”
Crimson Titan’s eyes seemed to light up, “Ah yes, that eyesore of an office. So, you’re a real salary man looking for a change of pace?”
“Uh, not exactly?” You look Crimson over again. That mustache had to be real, right? “Halloween’s coming up. I thought I could grab something for the office party.”
The shopkeeper almost looked hurt at the comment, “But sir-“
“Wallace is fine-“ You start.
“Wally! My shop can let you change your life in ways you can’t even imagine!” The gentleman slid an arm over your shoulder. “Surely there’s a ‘You’ you’d rather be?”
He started to lead you deeper into the shop. You were getting the sinking feeling that you weren’t getting out of here without buying something. As the entryway of the shop disappeared, you realized Crimson was right about one thing: There were a lot of interesting costumes here.
Sure there were the big scruffy werewolf outfits and the odd rubber things, but a lot of these outfits just seemed like alternate paths you could have taken in life. Your desk job at the newspaper was… fine. A little dead end perhaps? You couldn't help but wonder how less your life may have turned out in another time or place.
This Titan fellow seemed to have a lot of service industry outfits. You tried to picture your coworkers reaction if you came back from lunch dresses like a bell hop, shoe shine, or butler. Heck, there was even a maid outfit. Everyone got pretty casual on Friday. You had a feeling they wouldn’t mind a preview of your Halloween outfit.
Or maybe you should be a bit more aspirational? Those belt and suspenders struck you as something one of your bosses would wear. There even appeared to be a “titan of industry” outfit with a monocle and bushy white mustache. It seemed a little over the top until you remembered the circus leader of a man leading you around.
Speaking of the circus, maybe you should lean in that direction? This shop seemed to have a costume for both a lion tamer and his lion. Maybe you could rope your desk mate into all this foolishness. Coming back from your break dressed like a clown would probably test the patience of your manager, but you could always save it for the office party.
“So…” Crimson finally let you free of his arm, “See any life that strikes your fancy?”
“Uh…” This guy had such an unusual pitch.
You were about to give him his answer when you spotted some costumes a few spaces down from the circus lion. Sitting up on top of the shelves was a large dog mask. There were a few accessories beside it like paw gloves and a tail. Heh, you did work at a newspaper. Maybe you should be a good old fashioned news hound?
“Not quite yet,” you stalled, “Give me a second.”
“Come on Wally, your lunch break won’t last forever!” The Crimson Titan threw his arms open, “What’ll it be?”