Xander stomped around the store in a good state of a snit-fit.
*Damn brat, grabbed the last plastic gun? Now what'll I dress up as?"
He was already in a pissy mood as Buffy was positively gushing about the 'princess' dress she'd found. Like it wasn't obvious who she was trying to impress. Willow was a known factor. She'd dress as a ghost. Again. Like always.
*Let's see? I have an old Army uniform and some Tanker's boots?*
About that time, the music that was playing in the background intruded upon his thoughts.
*Cool, the Stones rock? Naw? I couldn't? Hell yea I could. It IS 'Dress as you aren't night' after all.
*Okay, this'll probably take some big money with my luck, but what the hey, let's see?*
One pair of white baggy pants, a white 'poet' shirt with ruffles and what appeared to be an authentic British Artilleryman's Jacket from the 1800's later?
"How much?" Xander couldn't quite believe his ears. The man must have misstated it.
"You did come in here with the young lady who purchased the dress, correct?"
"Well, yea."
There you go then, you get a 75% discount. You were the luck 500th visitors to my humble establishment. *And the fact that you children know Rupert has oh so little to do with making sure you leave here with something* He added sarcastically to himself.
"Xander!" For the fifth time the now ghostified Willow yelled at her friend as he slowly walked away from her. "Damn-it, XANDER!" she yelled yet again as she finally got in front of him. For someone walking, he moved awfully quickly.
Stopping just shy of her, he looked her up and down. "I'm afraid that Alexander isn't home right now, Miss Rosenberg." He said just loud enough for her to hear. "He will be returned to you whenever the spell that caused this? manifestation to occur."
"You're? you're not Xander?"
"No more than you really are a ghost, Miss Rosenberg."
"You're not Xander, but you know who I am?"
"Oh yes. You'd be surprised at the things I know.
"Uhmmm? Okay. Uhmmm? Who are you?"
He just looked at her and smiled. The smile sent a shiver up her back as it was both like and unlike Xander's normal 'I know something you don't' smile.
Not getting an answer she tried a different question. "Uhmmm? I really didn't know who Xander dressed as, it was such a mélange of different periods. Are you a good guy or a bad guy?" This last was asked with not a little trepidation.
Cocking his head to the side the person wearing the guise of her friend smiled at her "That would depend on who you ask, Miss Rosenberg. I've gotten a lot of bad press for quite a long time."
"Who are you?!" Willow finally blurted out again.
"Tell me my dear, are you a Rolling Stones fan?"
"Huh?"
"Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste. Pleased to meet you, Hope you guess my name."
With that comment he turned and made his way down the street, idly lashing out and dusting a real vampire with one hand and turning back to normality a transformed child with the other.
"Oh Shit!"
Willow could only stand there in shock as she watched him walk away, his voice carrying back to her in song.
"But what's confusing you,
is just the nature of my game.
Just as every cop is a criminal,
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails, Just call me Lucifer,
'cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me, Have some courtesy,
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse,
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah"