INTERIOR- The girl’s underground base, living room area. Lamp is emitting a dull ring.

  PRESENT- THE BOY (on sofa) THE GIRL (on sofa, holding a mpshade)

  TIME- Later than midday, but not that much ter.

  The dull, persistent ring remained dull and persistent for a second or two.

  . . .

  “why is it-“

  The girl smmed the mpshade back atop the mp, allowing the ring to persist no longer.

  “How closely were you paying attention, Bug?” She quickly talked over him, somewhat satisfied that she got to interrupt someone, at least.

  “very closely.” The boy was confident in his ability to perceive things that happen that happen less than a foot away from him. Not the most impressive area of expertise, but it fits such a non-impressive little guy.

  “Good, 'cus I don't wanna repeat anything. You’ll be ready to go in a bit!” The girl leapt off the couch and sped town the western hall.

  And she returned to the living room, stuff in hand, before the boy could wonder why, and otherwise before anything interesting could happen. She is very fast.

  She threw the stuff on a small coffee table, and went to work.

  **Ta-dah!!**

  “PERFECT!” The girl excimed, puffing out her chest triumphantly.

  “it says ‘bug’ now.” The boy observed, very astutely.

  “That’s right! Now no one’ll get the two of us confused.” She nodded, satisfied and in agreement with herself.

  “was that a concern? are you often recognized?” The boy tiled his head.

  “Of course! Sometimes. Depends entirely on the outfit!” More agree-ful nods from the girl. “Clothes maketh the man, after all.”

  “i see. noted.” He noted.

  “Especially in ol’ NB here!” She gnced down at the Navy-Blue hat. “This is my most important one.”

  “also noted. although i do not imagine we are at risk of being mistaken for each other.” Besides their simirity in height, there were very few visual simirities between the boy and the girl.

  “It’s very important! I can’t have a Bug like you tarnishing me or my hat’s reputation! We’ve got cred!”

  “i-“

  “No buts! The hat’s staying as it is!” She pointed at him to accentuate her demands.

  “i know. i was going to agree already.”

  “Good! Now, put it on!” She said as she smmed the hat on top of his head. So he didn’t have to put on squat, really.

  “Wow. You are SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive right now.” The girl pridefully stated, looking him up and down.

  “thank you.” The boy was not wholly confident in his thankfulness.

  “Seriously, it’s like night and day. It’s breathtaking…” She looked longingly at his barely different form. “But it’s missing something… STAY THERE!”

  The girl ran down the hall again. Moments ter, she returned, now wearing a white bck t-shirt, holding the grey hoodie in her hands.

  “Take that ratty thing off!” The girl is grinning, giddy with excitement.

  “okay.” The boy slowly pulls his shirt over his head. Not in a flirtatious or sensual way, no, he’s just not very good with clothes.

  As soon as his peasant shirt was off his body, the girl stuffed him inside her gray hoodie.

  She took a step back.

  Tears formed in her eyes.

  “It’s… Perfect.”

  “i am g-”

  “No it isn’t.”

  She left again. She returned wearing shorts, with pants in her hands.

  “Off with the pantaloons!” The girl is under the impression that ‘pantaloons’ and ‘pants’ are interchangeable words. Which, in fairness, yeah they pretty much are, unless you’re annoyingly pic-

  Why ev- who cares!?

  The boy took off his pants, and the girl shoved his legs inside the pants that were once hers.

  She took a step back, and nodded.

  Her eyes closed, and she continued her fulfilled nodding.

  “Now… it’s finally… Almost perfect.” She decrees.

  “i am gd.”

  “It’d be better if you were wearing the armor, but it’s definitely too heavy for your scrawny butt. Which sounds hirious, but also like it’d be a total pain to have to take offa you.”

  “a reasonable assumption.”

  “Still. This is nothing short of divine. My fashion sense, it’s… It’s simply too perfect. Really, it’s almost a curse.”

  “how so?”

  “. . . Begone with you.” She turned away, full of whimsy. “You have a mission to attend. Also, here’s a marked map that’ll lead you to town.”

  “okay.” The boy pced the map in his hoodie pocket. Convenient.

  And so, the boy, wearing a near-perfect cospy of the girl, ascended the dder, and began his lonely journey towards the town of Ruttford.

  “WAIT! THE SHOES, TOO!” The girl excitedly screamed, sprinting up to him with her shoes in her hands, about five minutes after he left.