"Come on Wally, your lunch break won't last forever!" The Crimson Titan threw his arms open, "What'll it be?"
And he stood there looking at you impatiently.
You were looking at the lion tamer and his lion costumes, and notice that they are meant to go together. You wonder if he sells them separately. Which made you ask without thinking.
"Sir, do you sell them separate?" You point at the costume. And the red big-bellied shopkeeper in a Ringleader costume raise his eyebrow, and said "A lion tamer needs his lion, it would only make sense." He says casually, you shooke your head.
"I mean like... Do you sell a lion costume separately? I'm thinking if you have that. Then you would've at least have a Lion costume on its own." you spoke with confidents. Which made Crimson raise his eyebrows. "So... Why do you want to be a lion? If I may ask?" As you are about to explain your reason, when you brought up Lion King, he starts shouting. "For the last time... NO! We don't sell copyrighted characters!"
You raise your hands up! "I know! I know! I saw your discord with that woman earlier. I'm not an idiot!" Crimson's face change into an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry Wally, it's just that I..."
"I get it." you forgave him. Can you really blame him? He thought he's gonna have to put up with another fan-brat. You did see it happened... The store was still for a bit before you continued.
"So anyway, even if it just for one time, or maybe an occasional fun. I wanted to dress up as a lion. I don't mind if it's cartoony, or if it makes me look like a furry..." He cocked his head at the mention of 'furry' then understood what you meant, as if to say 'Right, you're one of those people'. And he gestures you to keep going. "... In any case... Having watch that movie as a kid, as well as every other movies, or cartoons that features a lion. it was then I realized that.. My spirit animal is a lion, and I wanted to be one." And Crimson just stood there thinking.
And then he smiles. "Well, Wally you are in so much luck becuse I have a lot of variants that you can choose from... You can either be real, Anthro, or Cartoony! Come! I'll show you the front row!" He grabs you with his arm to take you to your possible choices.
'Wow! For someone with a fat belly he's strong!' You think to yourself. "Wait, 'Variants'?"
___________________
He had showed you what he clams to be a handful of what he has in his store.
These include but not limited to...
A Real Fereal Lion:
It looks so real that if you didn't know better. You would of assume it was a pelt. But he assures you that while it looks real, animals weren't hurt. It's not actual animal skin. Even with that you don't know how that would work? It feels so heavy, the fur is rough, and the mask... Good Lord! As detailed as this is... It looks like it would be uncomfortable to wear! Looking at this makes the Lion Tamer's Lion costume look pragmatic in comparison as silly as that costume looked.
The Shopkeeper spoke. "If you don't want to necessarily lose your humanity..." He take the heavy costume out of your hands, and you started. "Now why would I want to lose my-..." He gave you another costume.
An Anthropomorphic Lion:
The Red Circus Leader spoke again. "I grab the average build because that's what you are currently. But if you want a different build. I have one that's muscular build, Or a FATTER build..." On the word 'fatter' he pats his own belly for emphasis. As he smiles "...Just to name a few."
Okay! You have to admit, this ‘is’ an improvement. It's lighter, the fur is well groomed, and it looks easy to put on! Though there are a few wrinkles... Like the the eyes for one thing... They're not animal eyes they look... almost human. And that's not all. the front paws have poseable thumbs. Well that's not really ‘that’ unusual, But then you look at it's groin and... Okay it's too freaky! Do they really make those!
"If you have the time..." Crimson Titan spoke snapping you out of gazing eyes of the mask. "... You can even take off all your clothes when you change, and put them over it. They will morph to fit your new skin! although I can't guarantee on the other forms... So if you want to keep your clothes... Believe that they will fit you before you zip it up competely, and they will be fine."
And now he's testing your patience... Thinking to yourself. 'This is not practical! My clothes don't just morph to fit at all! I know he's trying to play a character for his store. But this too much!' "Sir, I don't want to be rude but..." Then he snatches the costume.
"Say no more! I have a another skin you can try... The one you can be happy with!" And what he gave you (although this one is just has a red mane, and yellow body fur)... is a very colorful suit.
The Cartoon Lion:
"Rather be it from a Disney cartoon, or Loony Tunes show... You can be 'your own' Character in your own Saturday Morning Cartoon World! You can be naked without shame because there won't be anything there! Or if you just want to wear clothes? Or maybe you want to wear just a shirt with no pants on? You can do just that!" He describe it, with such hype you'd think he's trying too hard!
What you are actually seeing is what you have seen in a Sports Mascot. All it needs is a jersey.
This is similar to the... Anthro Lion from eariler... But it's less Realistic, and more Stylized! With a Cartoony head, define colors on this suit, It's created with such simplicity... there is nothing on the groin! And, somehow weirdly it feels light. Not heavy at all!
And Crimson finishes with. "And Wally boy, I only showed you a few of what I actually have!"
You stare at him... He also points at the doors telling you where the dressing rooms are. You can't tell how long you been here, and he's giving you too many choices. You just want to either get this over with, or get back to work before you're late. You have set an alarm on your phone before you got here, in case you lost track of time.
"Sir... It's been fun but..." You handed him the costume. "I need to think this over..."
He then pulled a random Lion mask from the shelf, and stuffs a piece of paper in it. "Wally, If you don't have the money in hand, then I would like to give this mask to you for free. Call it a constellation, to make up for your lost time here."
You look at it. And he goes on. "It doesn't do anything drastic, it just changes your face into a lions head, and nothing else. Like I mentioned in the fine print, it's temporary as long as you remember your original self, or the fact that you are just wearing a costume!"
'Who is this guy?' You wondered, he won't let you leave empty handed. Should you entertain the idea of a chance to change your life, as absurd as that sounds... What should you pick to try on?