starter status : open to everyone !
location : smarty mart ; early afternoon !
tagging : n/a !
The countdown was officially on for the holiday - thirty-four days until the big night. Everyone seemed to be gearing up for it, having started pretty much at the beginning of the month, talk of decorations and costumes and candy the hot topic of each conversation Willow overheard and took part in. Though she’d been wrapped up in her studies - autumn brought in cool weather, but it also brought around first semester finals - even she couldn’t help but think of what she might dress up as, weather she would stay home to pass out candy or find somewhere to go for the night, and if she wanted to do things like carve pumpkins or decorate the manor.
On one of her rare days off from everything - the library hadn’t scheduled her, school was out early for the day, her grandmother didn’t need her for errands, and she was completely caught up on her reading - she found herself at the grocery store, perusing the orange and black-themed aisles, getting ideas and looking for something sweet to take home.
Bags and bags of candy lined the shelves, and she stopped to take a look, curious and yet a little overwhelmed. Branded sweets like this weren’t a big thing in her house growing up, and now there were so many to choose from.
So, catching sight of a familiar face, she smiled, waved them over. “ Hey ! C’mere really quick ? ” Maybe it was a little silly, asking for opinions on candy, but Animania felt as big as it did small sometimes, and if anything, this would be a good little bonding moment for them. “ I’m trying to figure out something to take home, but I don’t really know what. ” Baby blues turned from them to the candy before the two of them. “ I didn’t do candy a lot as a kid, t’ be honest. Or Halloween, really. ” At least, not in the traditional sense. “ So I’m a little lost, I guess, ” she continued, just a tad embarrassed by the fact, but pushing on. “ Any suggestions ? ” Her smile was hopeful, sweet.
Hiro was on his way home when Aunt Cass frantically called him and asked him to pick up a few things on their way home. The last thing they wanted to do right now is go to Smarty Mart but there’s no way they’re going to deny Cass. At least they’ve started putting up the Halloween section. That was a big positive. Maybe he could slip a chocolate hoard past Cass. He tended to lose himself in the candy this time of year.
While studying an assorted bag of chocolate, someone called out to him and broke his concentration. Hiro turns towards the source and feels their heart race when they spot Willow staring back. Oh no, don’t make a fool of yourself. “Hey, what’s up?” they say, trying to be casual about it. “OH, candy? Lucky for you I’m an expert in this department.” They throw a smile at Willow before scanning the shelves in front of them. “If you ever want a candy crash course, let me know. I’m happy to help.” Hiro continued scanning for a moment before quickly grabbing a bag in excitement. “This one. This is the holy grail of candy bags.” They stare down at the bag and smile, then look back up at Willow. “I think I might get this one. Reese’s and Kit-Kats? A dream.” They pause for a moment while looking at Willow as they come up with an idea. “Want me to pick out something special for you to try?”