You've got to have a hat

Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Author's notes: Just a little something I knocked together in a few minutes which anyone who's a fan of a certain webcomic appreciate. I'm not saying any more then that, I'd rather you work out who the costume characters are yourselves.



America, approximately twenty minutes until the spell


“Hey Mom, have you seen my hat?”

“Which one?”

“The one for my costume. You know, the one I’ve been working on for the past two weeks.”

Even from upstairs, Erik could hear her sigh in exasperation.

“It’s in the den where you left it. I still don’t get why you’ve put so much effort into that thing, it looks ridiculous.”

Erik finished running downstairs before replying.

“No, it’s awesome. And I had to put all that effort into it, it’s the most important part of the costume.”

“If you say so.”

Hat retrieved, Erik walked into the kitchen, the headgear in question in its proper place. Although her son had already explained his costume choice several times she still didn’t quite get it, but seeing him in full costume for the first time she had to admit that while the combination of his old marching band coat (the new one being too new to risk Halloween related damage), light blue face paint on every inch of exposed skin, fake fangs, claws and the rather heavily modified shako (another former part of his old band uniform) looked strange it also looked suitably Halloween-y.

Erik grinned, exposing a mouthful of very sharp looking teeth.

“What do you think?”

“Very scary.”

“Uf course. Hy’m a verra scary monster.”

She gave him a look.

“Is the accent strictly necessary?”

“Ya.”

Just then the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” said Erik, dropping the accent for the time being.

Outside the door were a group of his friends, similarly clad in varying combinations of modified marching band uniforms, thrift store and army surplus finds and covered in assorted colours of face paint. While all of them had hats, no two were alike, giving the impression of them trying to dress in uniform but failing to grasp the point that uniforms are supposed to be, well uniform.

“Hey Erik, nize het.”

“Thanks. Think we’re going to have the best costumes there?”

“Definitely.”

“I think so too. Hey Mom, the guy’s are here to pick me up, I’ll be back at ten.”

“Nine.”

“Mom!”

“I mean it mister or you’ll be grounded for the rest of the week.”

“Okay, nine it is, geeze. See you later then.”

“Goodbye, have fun.”

The door clicked shut behind him.