Dorian admitted that Reina had been right about people staring at them on the train that weekend, but she had it far easier than him. With her cosplay on with her dark makeup and wig, she really only looked like a rather attractive goth girl, but Dorian…he knew he was another story. While she was looking like some guy’s fantasy, he was stood beside her with shoulder-length black hair which he’d slicked back, his skin made to look ungodly pale save for the shadows around his eyes to make them look sunken and depraved. This was beyond the fact that his clothes looked slightly old-fashioned and regal with the high-collar cape that he was carrying over his shoulder. At least he avoided opening his mouth too much to show off the fangs…but he was still quite the sight.
“And you were worried about people staring at you,” he teased, inadvertently showing off his fangs to a little kid close to them.
“Oh, shut up,” she smiled, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “I didn’t think about how it’d actually look, alright?” He returned the smile and kept on acting like everything was normal as they watched people get on and off at stops. When they finally got to their stop, they walked side by side until they reached a nonspecific-looking building. If the signs and banners outside hadn’t said ‘Cosplay Event Today’ there would’ve been very little to tell people where it was. They paid the twenty-pound entrance fee, stepping out into the lower atrium and looking out amongst the con goers.
There were plenty of cosplayers but there were just as many, if not more people who had simply come to take pictures and enjoy the cosplays. Dorian stood almost triumphantly, looking over at Reina who was almost shaking.
“You alright there?” he asked.
“Y-yeah,” she replied. “Just…first time jitters, I guess….” He nodded in understanding before offering her his hand.
“Take my hand if you need it,” he suggested. “We can just walk around and see if we can head up to the top courtyard. It’s usually less crowded there.” She gratefully took his hand and walked slightly behind him, the swishing of his cape tickling her wrist. He led her carefully through the crowd, avoiding getting in the way of photos and bumping into anyone else. As they passed people, Reina couldn’t help but notice how different everyone was.
“Was that just a guy in drag?” she asked.
“The dude in the Sailor Moon uniform?” Dorian answered. “I think it was, but I’m sure you saw that he was having just as much fun as anyone else, here.” The kept walking, Dorian looking from side to side for a staircase before Reina stopped. “What?” He followed her gaze to look at a tall blonde girl with a very fancy looking camera, taking pictures near a staircase. “You know her?”
“She’s a friend,” Reina smiled, turning the tables and almost dislocating Dorian’s shoulder as she dragged him towards her. “Hey, Hannah!” The blonde turned her attention to them as Reina let go of Dorian to hug her.
“Clover!” Hannah smiled, hugging her back. “Wow, I almost didn’t recognize you….” Hannah took a step back. “You look amazing…did you do this?”
“Not a stitch,” Reina answered, twirling so Hannah could see the cosplay. Hannah opened her mouth to ask something before she saw Dorian walking up to them.
“Is this who I think it is?” she asked. “Is this the guy you’ve been raving about for weeks?” Dorian chuckled lightly as Reina shuffled on her feet and turned a violent shade of red. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Hannah.”
“Dorian,” he offered, shaking her offered hand. “Reina’s told me a bit about you…took her a while to mention that a lot of her friends are graduated.”
“Sounds about right,” Hannah conceded. “On behalf of the others, thanks for helping Clover get started with her dream of cosplaying. She was ready to jump out of her skin when she told us…I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so excited….”
“It’s adorable, right?” Dorian inquired. They both turned to look at Reina who had taken a serious interest in the floor. “And it doesn’t stop with that….”
“Shut up,” Reina murmured.
“Hey, you know we both love you,” Hannah assured. “And you’re absolutely perfect to tease….”
“It’s nice being on this end for a change,” Dorian agreed. “But enough of that. Am I correct in saying that you’re at least part of the reason Reina wanted to start cosplaying?”
“What makes you say that?” Dorian gestured around at the event and to Hannah’s camera. “Yeah, I guess I am. I’ve always been super into photography and there’s no better place for great shots of people having fun than a cosplay event. I’d wager that some of those photos made Clover want to try it out for herself.”
“Yeah, they did,” Reina said, finding her voice again. “But there was also just something about…the idea of doing my favorite characters justice. Now that I’m here, I’m also feeling like it’s also just having fun with it.”
“There’s hope for you yet,” Dorian chuckled.
“You have no idea how long I’ve been saying that,” Hannah laughed. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. I’m here taking pictures for a class…why not a picture of you two? Always nice for shots of a happy couple….” Dorian’s mouth suddenly went dry, and he hoped that there was another couple somewhere near them. It had honestly slipped his mind that he and Reina were technically in couple’s cosplay. “What’re those looks for?”
“We’re not,” Reina began.
“She’s not my,” Dorian attempted. Hannah watched them continue to stammer and stumble over their words with a coy smile on her face.
“Oh, I got ya,” she grinned. “You’re here together, but not together-together yet, right?”
“Exactly,” Dorian answered without thinking. He and Reina shared a glance which caused Hannah to start laughing. Sure, they spent a lot of time together and yeah, some of those could probably be considered dates, some more than others, but that didn’t mean anything.
“Don’t worry, I’m not gonna drag this out any more than it already is,” Hannah assured, bringing herself back to seriousness. “But still, why don’t I get your first picture at an event, Reina? Why don’t we get the volume two cover art for the CD set?” With a nod, Reina brought her expression into a hard, serious expression with an almost real aggression behind her eyes and Dorian got up a stair above her. “Oh, I love that…Dorian, get behind her. Can you get the cape to swish?”
“Hope you can get the shot….” Throwing the cape over his shoulders, he spun on his heel to stand beside Reina, looking at her over his shoulder. With a very audible click, Hannah checked her work with a proud smile. “How’s it look?”
“Couldn’t have asked for better,” Hannah grinned. “Alright, I’ll leave you two to your fun….” Dorian nodded and made to turn as Reina trotted up the stairs before Hannah grabbed his arm. “Listen, I just really want to tell you thanks for helping her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy about anything. Keep it up….” With that, she went back to find her next great shot as Dorian followed after Reina.
The trip up the stairs was silent and a tad awkward. Neither of them wanted to be the first to say anything about the encounter they just had, nor the question that was broached. Thankfully, at least to them, another sound caught their attention…the sound of another camera clicking close by. They both turned around to see who it was, Dorian’s eyes widening in surprise.
“Lizzy?”
“Hey Dorian,” his little sister replied, walking over with her camera in hand. “Who would’ve guessed that I would find you at the nearest, cheapest cosplay event for a hundred kilometers. What a coincidence!” Dorian stuck his tongue out at her, but gratefully accepted the hug she offered.
“But why’d you come all the way out here?” he asked. “Are mom and dad with you?”
“Na, they stayed back home to watch the shop,” she answered. “And I just came to get some photos as a bit of a day trip.” She looked him up and down. “Nice work as usual you fucking weeb….”
“Like you’ve got much room to talk,” Dorian countered. Liz’s smile went over to Reina before returning to her brother.
“Is this the girl you keep telling us about?” she asked, a devilish smile now on her face. “The really beautiful girl who teases you, but you secretly like it?” Reina started to laugh while Dorian’s face flushed, and he spluttered to get a response out. “Not sure if he’s told you about me. I’m Elizabeth, his sister.”
“Reina, but I guess you already know that. I imagine he’s told you a lot about me,” Reina snorted. Dorian’s sigh of exasperation went unnoticed as Liz inspected Reina’s costume. If it wasn’t for bad luck right now, Dorian expected he’d have no luck at all.
“Did you make this?”
“Dorian did,” Reina supplied, nodding to him. “He took measurements, but we went and got everything together. He was so….” Dorian practically jumped towards Reina, clapping a hand over her mouth so that she couldn’t finish her sentence.
“I’m gonna have to stop you right there,” he growled, looking right into her frustrated eyes. “My baby sister’s already got a bunch of embarrassing stories about me, and I’m not going to have you giving her more. Especially since we’re here to mingle and have a bit of fun….” Reina huffed and Dorian felt a sudden slight wetness to him palm, but he kept his hand where it was.
“It’ll all come out in the wash,” Liz shrugged. She made to walk back the way they’d come before she stopped to turn to Dorian. “Oh, there’s something you’re going to want to know….” Dorian looked at her expectantly. “Cass is here.” His surprise was more evident as the hand he had over Reina’s mouth went slack.
“You’re shitting me,” he breathed. “If you’re pulling my leg, this is a low blow even for you….” Reina looked between them, not really sure who they were talking about.
“She found me downstairs while I was trying to get a few pictures,” Liz confirmed. “She asked me how you’d been, and I told her that you haven’t had the chance to talk with us for a while. She also said that she was having a great time at Sacred Heart….”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Dorian sighed, moving his hand to run it through his wig. “Almost half and year…and here I am again with avoiding her at school and now here…. Did she say anything about….?”
“I think she’s here for you, Dorian,” Liz said, grimly. “Thought you might want a bit of a heads up….” He gave her a grunt of thanks as she left back down the stairs.
“Who’s Cass?” Reina asked. The gears in Dorian’s head turned as he debated how much he was willing to tell her. “If you don’t want to tell me, it’s fine….”
“You remember that break up I told you about?” he asked, flatly. “She’s the ex in that story…I’ll leave it at that.” He took a deep breath to psych himself up, putting his hand on the door to the upper courtyard. “I’m not gonna let her ruin my fun today, and I sure as hell am not gonna let her ruin yours. You ready?”
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