“Dealers Room or the Exhibitors Hall,” Bran said. “Try stall 938. Heki does great costumes. Have fun.”
The Dealers Room was downstairs from the panel rooms, but the Exhibitors Halls were on the same level. She headed that way and was somehow unsurprised to run into Kelly.
“Hey, Kelly,” Doris said. “I’m going shopping for harem-girl outfits. I’ll probably have to try on several. Want to come along?”
“Be still my beating heart,” Kelly said, grabbing at his chest. “I thought you didn’t have any money?”
“I found some in my backpack,” Doris said, shrugging. “I guess I forgot I put it in there. Anyway, time to get busy on a costume for tonight.”
“Lead the way, fair maiden,” Kelly said. “Fortunately, my wife is a director and busy in the Hyatt, two hotels away. And, of course, nobody ever gossips at Dragon*Con. I should be safe.”
“I can’t wear this in public!” Doris said, holding up the harem-girl pants. They were, essentially, transparent.
“Well, maybe not with a thong,” Kelly said. “Unless you’re willing to really let it all hang out.”
“I don’t w…I don’t ha…” Doris stammered. “I can’t wear this in public! I thought it would have more coverage than this!”
“You’re thinking I Dream of Jeannie.” Heki was a short woman with a lined face and black hair shot with white. “That would look fabulous on you, dear.”
“Kelly, I’m sorry I dragged you along,” Doris said, shaking her head. “But I can’t try this on. Not and let anyone see it.”
“If you don’t let anyone see it, you’re not going to wear it tonight,” Kelly said. “It’s not that bad.”
“I dunno…” Doris said.
“If you really want, I’ll shut my eyes,” Kelly said. “And there’s always gaming. You’re dressed for that. If baggy shirts and jeans are what you want to dress like, you don’t have to wear a harem-girl outfit. Don’t let people pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do, being somebody you don’t feel comfortable being.”
“That’s a good point,” Doris said, frowning.
“You want to think about it?” Kelly asked. “I know where there’s a Magic tournament.”
“No,” Doris said, her face hardening. “I’m going to do it.”
“Up to you,” Kelly said, indifferently.
A few minutes later, Doris came out of the dressing room. She’d had to ask Heki to help her out with a few of the fittings, and there’d been a certain amount of giggling and bell ringing from the dressing stall.
“What do you think?” Doris asked, uncertainly.
“I take it back,” Kelly squeaked.
“Take what back?” Doris asked, worriedly.
“I take back what I said,” Kelly squeaked, then cleared his throat. “You should wear that all the time. I mean, All. The. Time.”
“Kelly, my eyes are up here,” Doris said after an uncomfortable delay.
“I’ve made my decision.”
The outfit was complete, from slippers to pink gauze pantaloons to mildly opaque red vest with gauze sleeves and silver bells to headdress with more bells. And included a totally opaque silk veil.
“I can’t do this.”
“You look great.”
“Then quit undressing me with your eyes!”
“I don’t have to undress you with my eyes, Doris.”
A crowd had gathered by the simple expedient of the first guy who glanced to the side and stopped, stunned. He, in turn, was bumped by another guy who looked the same way. At this point there were at least a dozen males all gazing at Doris, slack-mouthed. And about half as many female companions glaring at her.
“That’s it,” Doris said. “Not gonna do it.”
“Doris,” Kelly said. “Seriously. You should. You look like a million dollars, and with the veil, nobody will know it’s you.”
“Everybody’s staring at me!” Doris whispered.
“Honey,” Heki said, sighing, “that’s the point.”
“Doris, up to you,” Kelly said. “Gaming’s still an option. But I’ve never seen anyone who looks as good as you in one of those. And the veil is totally opaque.” He paused for a moment then shrugged. “Of course, it’s the only part that is.”
“Not helping.”
“Up to you.”
Doris thought about it for a moment, trying to ignore the stares, then shrugged.
“How much?”
“I need better underwear,” she said as they left the Dealers Room. The entire harem-girl costume fit in a very small bag, which was all that anyone needed to say about it.
“With that I will agree,” Kelly said. “But it really is a stunning outfit.”
“I could tell by the look of dead fish on all the guys’ faces,” Doris said, chuckling.
“Deer in headlights, surely.”
“Nope, dead fish. Round, unblinking, dead eyes. And I don’t think they sell underwear in the Dealers Room.”
“There’s a mall across the street.”
“Let’s go shopping.”
Doris waited in the shadow of one of the potted plants, hoping for a friendly face. She’d made one more trip to Heki’s shop and picked up a long, full-coverage, dark-blue hooded cloak. Which was the only reason she’d been able to step out of Folsom’s room after changing.
Parked where she was, she should be able to see anyone going into the Hyatt. But she was also virtually invisible. What with the books about a certain magic school, hooded cloaks were everywhere.
She’d settle for Mandy or Kelly. Even Traxa. Anybody she knew. Fortunately, she spotted Daphne.
“Pssst,” she whispered over the din of the smoking area. “Daphne. Daphne!”
“Yes?” Daphne said to the hooded figure.
“It’s Doris,” Doris stage-whispered.
“Doris, why are you hiding in the shadows in a hooded cloak?” Daphne asked, grinning. “Shall we promenade?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Come ’ere.”
When Daphne came over, Doris maneuvered herself so her back was to the crowd, and opened up the cloak.
“Oh my God!” Daphne said, covering her mouth and trying desperately not to giggle. “Oh my God, Doris! That is shameless!”
“But I’m not,” Doris said, pulling the cloak back around her. Tight. “This was a bad idea. I blame Kelly. I don’t think I can do this! I’ll go change into…”
“Baggy jeans and T-shirt?” Daphne said. “If you want. Where’d you get it?”
“In the Dealers Room. I found some money in my backpack.”
“Well, you’ve spent the money on it and it looks absolutely stunning,” Daphne said, frowning. “ I could never wear it. But you wear it very well.”
“I’m not sure I can wear it in public, though.”
“You like to dance, right?” Daphne asked.
“Yeah. That’s why I got it.”
“Could you wear it if you were dancing?”
“Maybe.”
“Be right back.”
