Neopia’s Runway: Albert's Attire

     NARRATOR: Welcome to another edition of Neopia’s Runway! For those of you joining us for the first time, welcome to the only fashion-forward show on Neovision! I am your host, Ellsworth.

     Red curtains appear on screen and rise to reveal ELLSWORTH, alone on a stage with a microphone.

     ELLSWORTH: A quick rundown for our viewers – each week we have a special guest of honour from across Neopia, for whom three hand-picked contestants are tasked with making two outfits for. The contestants are not given any information ahead of time about who that guest may be, putting their fashion skills to the ultimate test!

     ELLSWORTH: This week our special guest is Albert! That's right, Mutants deserve to be fashion forward too. In honor of Mutant Day we are challenging our contestants to think outside the conventionally beautiful box and dive into all things extra, be it extra eyes, extra limbs, extra heads, or, in Albert's case, extra brains.

     ELLSWORTH: Now, you may be thinking "Wait a minute, were we not promised the wise and handsome King Hagan for this week?" and you'd be right folks.

     ELLSWORTH sighs dramatically, offering up an overly apologetic doe-eyed look to the audience.

     ELLSWORTH: Unfortunately, the King had some royal duties to attend to, and had to reschedule. But fear not! King Hagan will return in Neopia's Runway: Doomsday! Er um…no, that can't be the right title…

     ELLSWORTH squints at his cue cards off-screen with a confused look on his face. He shakes his head and quickly changes the topic.

     ELLSWORTH: Ah, anyway, without further ado, our guest of honour–Albert!

     ELLSWORTH pauses for a dramatic flair, as the off-screen studio audience erupts into loud, frantic cheers. Albert shuffles onto the stage slowly, appearing a tad unsure of all the eyes on him.

     ELLSWORTH: Today’s contestants will be Prigpants and Swolthy, Vira, and Sophie! Now folks, why don’t you tell the audience a little bit about yourselves?

     The camera pans over to the Styling Studio where PRIGPANTS, SWOLTHY, VIRA, and SOPHIE are positioned behind workstations. It zooms in on each one as they introduce themselves.

     PRIGPANTS: We are Prigpants and…

     SWOLTHY: …Swolthy. We own a lovely shop in…

     PRIGPANTS: …Neovia. We do everything…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): …together.

     PRIGPANTS and SWOLTHY nod in an eerily synced manner.

     ELLSWORTH: Uh…well, isn't that cheating since there's two of you?

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): No.

     ELLSWORTH: Moving on. Vira?

     VIRA: As the most beautiful Acara in all of Neopia, I know a thing or two about fashion. I may have been defeated in the Void takeover, but I will not be defeated in the Styling Studio!

     SOPHIE: I'm a spooky green witch, and although I may dress neutral, my eye is anything but – it's quite keen for dressing my fellow haunts.

     The camera pans back to ELLSWORTH and ALBERT, who have now joined the contestants in the studio.

     ELLSWORTH: Excellent! Today’s categories will be Haunted wear and formal wear. Mutants need something a little creepy, a little edgy, and perhaps a little mysterious. But occasionally they do need to get prim and proper for events across Neopia, and need to be looking their best. Tailoring clothes to a Mutant's unique shape will really test your skills and knowledge.

     ELLSWORTH: We will begin our competition with Haunted wear.

     ELLSWORTH: Albert – any advice for our contestants?

     ALBERT: Mutants are known across Neopia to dress a little ratty and tatty, so I am looking for something that showcases such preference. Something we can really scare visitors with over in the Woods.

     ELLSWORTH: Excellent advice, even if a little disturbing.

     ALBERT stares into Camera B, his glowing red eyes slowly flickering, then slinks offstage.

     ELLSWORTH: As a reminder, the winner of today’s competition will have their outfit worn by Albert at the Festival of Fears this year! No pressure, of course!

     The contestants in fact look extremely pressured.

     ELLSWORTH: Well, if we’re ever going to transmogrify one of you into a winner, we best get to it!

     ELLSWORTH: But first, a quick word from today’s sponsor: The Crumpetmonger!

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     The jingle fades out, and the contestants reappear on screen, exchanging nervous glances as the background music resumes and builds to a crescendo.

     ELLSWORTH: You have one hour. On your mark, get set, GO!

     The show’s finalists, PRIGPANTS, SWOLTHY, VIRA, and SOPHIE, scatter. They begin frantically running around, flipping through lookbooks and magazines, parsing through closets, and tossing aside fabric scraps and mannequins in a blind panic. Piles of clothes begin forming all around the studio, forming a dark and spooky explosion of fashion.

     ELLSWORTH: Wow, these contestants sure seem busy! There is a lot going on here in the Styling Studio.

     ELLSWORTH: So Prigpants and Swolthy, what’s the vision? How are you two handling the pressure of working together?

     PRIGPANTS: It's no pressure…

     SWOLTHY: …at all. We work best as a…

     PRIGPANTS: …team. We always know what the other is…

     SWOLTHY: …thinking. We can communicate without…

     PRIGPANTS: …speaking. This allows us to visualise our outfit…

     SWOLTHY: …and execute our vision…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): …flawlessly.

     ELLSWORTH: Oh. Well, that is certainly interesting! If not unsettling. Vira? How about you?

     VIRA: Well, I love all things evil and all things beautiful. Being able to combine those is my talent, and will set my outfits apart from the competition.

     ELLSWORTH: Very true, I find you rapturous yet terrifying.

     ELLSWORTH: And finally, Sophie. What is your vision for today?

     SOPHIE: My favourite colour is green, which looks good with Albert since he is blue. I think knowing my strengths while playing to his uniqueness will allow us both to shine.

     ELLSWORTH: Very true! You can often tell who a designer is by their work, so putting your signature on it will definitely make Neopians remember your look.

     ELLSWORTH: Well friends, we're about a third of a way through our time, so I'll let you get back to work!

     41 minutes and 12 seconds later

     ELLSWORTH: 5… 4… 3… 2… 1! And that is TIME! Everyone, hands off your workstations and back away from your creations.

     ELLSWORTH takes a quick lap around the workroom, examining the various designs, inspecting the mannequins, etc.

     ELLSWORTH: Very nice, very nice. You all did amazing! Simply amazing if I do say so myself! No matter what I think, though… let’s bring out the true judge, Albert!

     ALBERT re-enters the room, to much applause and fanfare from the contestants and studio audience.

     ELLSWORTH: Prigpants and Swolthy, tell us about your Haunted wear for Albert today.

     PRIGPANTS: His deep eyes…they beg…

     SWOLTHY: …to be picked up on. This shirt makes them…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): …pop.

     PRIGPANTS: A stylish hat and matching shoes…

     SWOLTHY: …give the necessary sophistication to this…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): …edgy and dreamy look.

     PRIGPANTS: No nightmares here.

     SWOLTHY: No sir.

     ELLSWORTH: Extremely put together, and yet looks vaguely familiar somehow. Anyway, now onto Vira. Will you please tell us about your outfit for Albert?

     VIRA: I love girly things and I love creepy things. So this dress to me definitely says "Haunted" like no other! Paired with some poison ivy shoes and topped off with some chains for a little sparkle, this 'fit will definitely get all the other Mutants talking, and put the chill into the hearts of tourists. Albert,

     VIRA turns to address Albert directly.

     VIRA: If you're feeling a little extra, I believe a new haircut styled just so would help get the extra edginess across.

     ALBERT looks visibly uncomfortable with VIRA'S suggestion.

     ELLSWORTH: Interesting, um, well… that would be a lot of blue for Albert should he wear that one. Lots of bold choices here…

     ELLSWORTH: And finally, Sophie, what was your inspiration for this look?

     SOPHIE: As I said before, I am all about the colour green. So, I went with green! Just a bit of green in the pants with matching contacts to make the colour choice more balanced, and a matching collar for some edginess to play off Albert's fun fangs. A ragged top makes it look like he got in a fight – and hopefully won – giving him a bit of mystique and ability to make you go "oh no" when you see him. I opted for no shoes because he seems like a guy who is more in tune with nature. Or maybe he lost the shoes in the fight.

     ELLSWORTH: Well now that's quite a story, Sophie! Very thoughtful work here; I see the vision.

     ELLSWORTH: Now that we’ve heard from our contestants, Albert, what are your thoughts?

     ALBERT: There are more options for Haunted wear than I thought, especially when you leave it up to interpretation like this. Your visions are unique and interesting, and any Mutant would look great in these outfit choices.

     ALBERT: Prigpants and Swolthy, you two are very unconventional as individuals considering you aren't exactly individuals, but I do know you've never let me down in the tailoring department. You may have had an edge here since you really know my style. However, the hat is a little big and hides my best feature: my giant brain.

     ALBERT: Vira, wow. I really don't have words. This is very you, but it is not very me. It is pretty, don't get me wrong, but I could never see myself wearing this. I'm sorry. I think it would look good on you. I also think a wig would make my brain very itchy, and possibly dry them out.

     ALBERT: Sophie, the contacts freak me out a little bit. I can't lie. Not sure how I'd handle wearing them. However, the rest of the outfit is very cool. It makes me look tough and ready for anything, especially during the Festival of Fears, and I think I could be open to trying something new like contacts.

     ELLSWORTH: So, Albert! Are you ready to say who won this round?

     ALBERT: I would have to say…

     The camera pans to each contestant, as they fidget nervously at their workstations.

     ALBERT: SOPHIE!

     SOPHIE titters with excitement, clapping her hands and bouncing with joy. PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY are expressionless, and congratulate SOPHIE politely, while VIRA scowls and appears to be muttering something under her breath.

     ALBERT: You just get my style, and you did take a risk with the colour, but it paid off. Absolutely incredible, spooky stuff.

     ELLSWORTH: Wow! Congratulations Sophie! I gotta say, I wasn’t sure who would come out on top!

     ELLSWORTH: Prigpants, Swolthy, Vira… don’t fret, for we still have one more challenge to go. Take the advice and jump straight into the next challenge; there is always time for a come-from-behind victory! Anything is possible here on Neopia's Runway!

     ELLSWORTH: Round two is formal wear. You are tasked with creating something that walks the line of spooky and spiffy. Freaky and fashionable. Terrifying and terrific. You get the point.

     ELLSWORTH: For winning the first round, Sophie gets a special advantage – an extra five minutes. This may sound like not a lot of time, but this essentially gives her first pick out of everything available – fabric, accessories, you name it. Once your time is up, Prigpants, Swolthy, and Vira will be allowed to join you, and the round will officially begin.

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY remain expressionless. VIRA'S scowl deepens, if that's even possible. Albert nods politely at each contestant, and makes his way offstage.

     ELLSWORTH: As with round one, you have one hour. Well, unless you're Sophie, that is! Sophie, your time starts…NOW!

     SOPHIE dashes off, frantically picking through the storeroom, flinging fabrics to the side, and rifling through boxes of accessories. While she works, the camera splits screens to show her frenzy on the left, and ELLSWORTH, PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY, and VIRA on the right.

     ELLSWORTH: Any final thoughts while you await your turn?

     PRIGPANTS: We think…

     SWOLTHY: …we will be just…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): fine.

     PRIGPANTS: We are not concerned.

     SWOLTHY: We wish Sophie the best.

     ELLSWORTH: Vira?

     VIRA: It should have been me, but I'll make do. I am a little concerned considering Albert hated my last outfit, but surely he will see my vision this time.

     ELLSWORTH: Right you are then. Perhaps consider something a little less…transformational this round.

     VIRA rolls her eyes.

     ELLSWORTH: Well, it looks like Sophie's time is just about up so on your mark… get set… GO!

     PRIGPANTS, SWOLTHY, and VIRA join SOPHIE in her mad dash around the studio – flinging pieces of clothing, picking fabric rolls out of each other’s hands, rummaging through the shelves, and shouting incoherently. ELLSWORTH watches from the corner, bemused.

     The camera pans to SOPHIE’S workstation, where a pile of, you guessed it, green fabric is forming. It pans back to ELLSWORTH, who begins addressing the camera directly.

     ELLSWORTH: Now, Sophie, you had a five-minute head start. How did you choose to use it?

     SOPHIE: I'm trying not to rush – I want to give myself time to really study what is here before I commit to it. It was nice to have some extra time to browse the storeroom without stress, to really just take in everything available for Mutants here. Really helped to get my vision sorted and out of my head.

     ELLSWORTH: I see you've gone green again – do you think that's the right choice?

     SOPHIE: Absolutely. I think it really paid off in the first round, and I'm confident it will pan out again.

     ELLSWORTH: Fair enough. Vira, how are you holding up?

     VIRA: I think Sophie made a mistake and I will capitalise on it. Being the most beautiful Acara of all, I not only know what looks good but who looks good in it.

     ELLSWORTH: Your confidence is remarkable, I do have to say. Prigpants? Swolthy? How are you handling this challenge?

     PRIGPANTS: A little nervous but…

     SWOLTHY: …we are professionals. We can make…

     PRIGPANTS: …anything work.

     A montage plays of the contestants continuing their work over the next 40-some odd minutes. It ends, and the final two minutes of the round are shown at regular speed, with a countdown timer ticking down the seconds.

     ELLSWORTH: Alright, and that is time! Contestants, please step away from your designs as we welcome Albert back for our final round of judging!

     ALBERT re-enters the studio for the final time, to the usual healthy round of applause from both the contestants and the audience.

     ELLSWORTH: We’ll start with our leading contestant. Sophie, you had an extra five minutes at the top of the hour. You said you used it to really look over everything and make more informed, careful selections. What did you come up with in such an environment?

      SOPHIE: I took what may be a bit of a risk, and went for green again. This time it is a much brighter, more polished outfit and shade of green. The pinstripes play well with the white-collared shirt underneath, and the pop of white in the shoes. This outfit allows Albert to be perfectly tailored, effortlessly matching, and uniquely styled by Sophie.

     ELLSWORTH: That is a very sharp style for sure, I must admit. I do love a smart suit.

     ELLSWORTH: Now for our runner-up from round one, Prigpants and Swolthy, please share your outfit.

     PRIGPANTS: This two-piece…

     SWOLTHY: …suit is in lovely shades of pink…

     PRIGPANTS: which highlight Albert’s favourite feature…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): …his brain.

     PRIGPANTS: The elegant white shoes provide…

     SWOLTHY: …class while the upscale necklace provides…

     PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY (in unison): …style.

     ELLSWORTH: Right, well it certainly is full of bold colours, and it would seem you incorporated some of Albert's feedback from round one into your design. I'm interested to see what he has to say about your attention to detail!

     ELLSWORTH: And finally, Vira. Let's see if you've redeemed yourself in the eyes of Albert.

     VIRA: I went for a classic black and white tuxedo, plus some fancy shoes. For a little flair and sophistication, I grabbed a top hat that pulls the outfit together nicely but doesn't hide Albert's brain, which I recall him being concerned about last round. It also allows for airflow.

     ELLSWORTH: Colour me impressed! Vira, you've certainly taken the feedback to heart, and here's hoping that will pay off.

     ELLSWORTH: Wonderful job all, and extra good job to everyone for listening and learning. Albert? Your thoughts?

     ALBERT: Fantastic job all, I think this is going to be a much harder round to decide. You all did so well and were so intentional with your choices.

     ALBERT: Sophie, green really is your signature colour. And, frankly, it doesn't look half bad on me either. This is a very well-tailored suit with very deliberate choices in white accents. However, I wish there were more accessories. Or, really, any.

     ALBERT: Prigpants and Swolthy, going for pink is an unusual choice, and I admit my first reaction was a hard no. But it really does complement my beautiful brain, and I have to say it is really unique. The more I look at it, the more I like it.

     ALBERT: Oh, Vira, you really did so much better this round. I love the timeless aesthetic of the black and white look; I would make quite the dashing Festival host in this outfit.

     ELLSWORTH: Alright, let's ease up on hosting duties now, Albert. Let's pick a winner first.

     ALBERT: Sorry for overstepping, Ellsworth. Well, contestants, you really showed what you bring to the table with these outfits. You are all so creative, funny, and unique in your fashion. But, as we know, there can only be one winner. And that winner is… Vira.

     The camera pans to VIRA, who is attempting to hide her shock behind a smug look. SOPHIE, PRIGPANTS, and SWOLTHY congratulate her warmly.

     ELLSWORTH: Congratulations Vira! I guess you really did make it work. See folks, when we say anything is possible on the Runway, we mean it!

     ELLSWORTH: Well, now that we have a winner from each round, who will you transmogrify into our overall winner, Albert? As a reminder, the winner will be dressing Albert for the Festival of Fears this year.

     ALBERT: Again, all three of you have been lovely to work with, and it has been such an honour to see you challenge yourselves, each other, and me through fashion. You have poured your spooky little hearts into Mutantwear, and I couldn't be more proud to see my kind on full display in such a loving way.

     ALBERT: With all of that in mind, today’s winner of Neopia’s Runway is…

     ALBERT: Sophie!

     The camera pans to SOPHIE, who is pleasantly delighted by the news. PRIGPANTS & SWOLTHY remain expressionless as usual, as they pat SOPHIE on the back. VIRA'S smug look has been quickly replaced by one of deep disdain and infuriation. She opens her mouth to say something, but the camera quickly cuts away from her, and back to SOPHIE.

     ELLSWORTH: Oh wow! Congratulations Sophie! Just an overall fantastic performance today. How are you feeling?

     SOPHIE: I would say I am shocked, but honestly, I always knew I had the talent to be here. I just had to keep believing in myself and know that if I stayed true to myself, Albert would see how great I can be for his style and how great we can be together.

     ELLSWORTH: Well, what a performance by all of our contestants today! I cannot wait to see your look in action at the Festival of Fears!

     Outro music begins to play.

     ELLSWORTH: Well folks, that’s all we have for today! Tune in next time for King Hagan – yes, it's really happening!

     The volume of the outro music begins to rapidly scale up, as ELLSWORTH struggles to shout over it.

     ELLSWORTH: Until then – thank you, contestants, and thank you, Albert. This is Ellsworth, signing off.

     The End.