Opening my eyes, I let out a content sigh looking over at my closet. A homemade suit hung from hangers. Getting up out of bed, I stretched throwing my arms out wide yawning. Heading to the bathroom after my stretching session I did the normal thing and used the toilet before taking a shower.
Shower, breakfast, everything was going as it normally would, I treated the day like any other. In the back of my mind I was simultaneously freaking out, and celebrating. Walking back into my room in my underwear and a muscle shirt, looking quite unflattering. Looking down at my stomach, I sucked it in a moment before letting it hang back out, looking back to the clothes that I planned on wearing I took out the black pants, quilted green long sleeve shirt and the tattered brown coat, with the medieval looking hood placed over the hanger.
A smile came to my face as I laid the costume out on my bed. Turning back to the closet, I grabbed a small box beneath where the pieces of the costume sat along with a pair of modified leather work boots.
I silently tried to decide whether to wear this to my first comic con or to carry it there, then get changed. Deciding it would be simpler, I started to get dressed in the costume. 'To heck with the people that think I'm weird! I am weird' I thought a smile forming on my face.
Finishing with the metal spaulder on my left shoulder, the pair of metal knee pads, and the leather vambraces, I walked back into the still quite steamy bathroom to look at myself in the mirror. A frown formed as I turned around and used my towel to wipe off the mirror to make sure I had everything placed properly.
The hood covered my short ginger hair as well as a fair amount of my face though my ice blue eyes showed. My beard and scraggly mustache made me smirk stroking it thoughtfully. “Well I look the part of the wanderer” I said chuckling looking through the small bag tied to my belt, and the small satchel I had managed to bleach from it's original dark brown to more of a tan. Finding the two pieces of white and orange 'soapstone' I had placed in the bag as well as some worn looking bandages as well as a small roll of cash. The satchel held a few essentials I had put in for the con as my cell phone having forgotten to put pockets on the pants.
Nodding my head I headed back to my room and found the last three props for the costume. The first being a spear about six foot long with two 'wings' placed right below the spearhead. The other being a leather bound wooden shield, with a round metal plate in the middle. Finally I found the large knife I had managed to forge with my father's assistance. Unsheathing the blade I checked the teeth on the blade making sure they were still sharp.
A smile came to my face as I checked the strangely shaped blade before giving it a few swings. Re-sheathing it I tied the blade into the sheath and then the sheath itself to part of one of my lower hanging belts.
I sighed looking at the spear remembering the rules my friend had told me about the costume weapons. Putting a plastic sheath over the end of the spear, I unscrewed the head, planning on putting it in my backpack possibly for pictures outside. Replacing the head with a fake looking foam one.
It bugged me how you couldn't be as authentic as possible with the weapons, but I shook my head 'It's my first don't wanna wine the whole time because I can't play with my weapons' I thought before putting the shield on my back thanks to a loop that had been added.
The drive to the convention center was a rather boring one with my Mom discussing how she would be there to pick me by four and to not spend my money on things I didn't need. I rolled my eyes sticking my tongue out at her and she replied in kind. “I love you!” she said as I got out of the car in front of the large building. Opening the back and pulling out my spear and backpack I leaned back in and gave her a kiss on the cheek, “Love you too Mom!” I said with a smile before getting out of the car and closing the door.
As the car drove away my hand clutched the badge that allowed me entrance. 'Alright, so first security' I thought turning around looking for someone who could assist with that only to find a mash of different people either waiting around for someone, or walking into the building. Starting towards the doors, I had sudden flashbacks to high school as the crowd thickened and chuckled to myself.
The metal butt of my spear tapped on the linoleum as I entered looking around for a security guard, nervous of them possibly kicking me out. Noticing others that had weapons chatting away walking towards a small booth occupied by people wearing bright yellow shirts.
Looking around once more, I followed still unsure. “Oh cool costume dude!” I heard behind me making me turn around to find someone dressed in a loincloth and a sack over their head with a plank shield and a large cleaver on their shoulder. “The wanderer eh? Little surprised you're not using the normal scimitar” he said motioning towards my spear.
“Well we can't all be the same wanderer right?” I said, “Male man eater Mildred?” I asked unsure only for him to nod.
“That it is! Though I call it Man eater Melvin” he said chuckling. “Name's Rodger though” he said holding out a fist.
“Nice to meet you Rodger, I'm Bret” I said returning the fist bump. “This your first con?” I asked hoping, to which he replied with a shake of his head.
“Been to two others” he said “You?” to which I nodded. “Well no worries, we're all friends here, now lets hit security before they drag us over there” he said starting for the booth.
I nodded and followed him letting out a sigh of relief.
I looked at the small bright colored bracelet on my hand for a moment walking through the stalls looking for something interesting. 'Least I managed to get through that' I thought looking at the spear once again still unsatisfied with the foam tip.
Shaking my head I looked over to find a simple looking stall with a man in a long black trench coat with a hood a purple scarf covering most of his face. A large backpack rested on the table along with a seemingly random assortment of items.
“Ah! Hello wanderer!” he said catching my eye, “Perhaps you'd like to peruse a few of my wares? I've got the best quality for a reasonable price!” The vendor's voice was slightly off putting and I was about to decline, but a small glint caught my eye making me approach. “A good choice my friend!” he said holding up a small gold colored ring with what looked like a pearl as a decoration.
I put my hand to my chin for a moment. “How much?” I asked giving him a wary look. The merchant shook his head too and fro for a moment.
“Lets say seventy five dollars wanderer” he said his eyes showing amusement. I looked at the ring again remembering I only brought five hundred to throw around.
“May I try it on to see if it fits first?” I asked letting go of my beard. The merchant nodded and handed me the ring. Fitting it snugly on my middle finger I gave it a smile before reaching into the small bag on my belt. Pulling out the small roll of bills I unfolded them counting out seven tens and a five before putting the small roll back.
The humor in the merchant's eyes only grew as he took the bills from my hand “Thank you for your business wanderer” he said, his voice changing dragging out more.
“What...” I started, trying to keep steady. “I....” trying to lean on my spear only for the metal butt to slip and send be strait to the floor and unconsciousness.