Chapter 4: Cosplay Chaos

Cassie had been planning for weeks. She’d meticulously gone through the schedule for the anime and gaming convention, making sure they wouldn’t miss any panels, signings, or photo ops. She’d even been bouncing around, trying to figure out the perfect cosplay that would make them stand out. Of course, Briar didn’t care about any of that.

“Why do we need to dress up again?” Briar asked, lounging lazily on the couch, staring at the TV like the event was some sort of punishment.

Cassie paused, holding up a pair of cat ears in front of Briar’s face. “Because, duh! It’s a convention! It’s fun to dress up as your favorite characters, get into the spirit, and—”

“I’m a demon,” Briar interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m already a walking costume.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Well, some of us don’t have supernatural powers that make us stand out in a crowd without trying.” She shot her a playful grin. “Besides, it’s an excuse to spend the day with me.”

Briar flicked a glance over at her, the corner of her mouth curving up slightly. “Alright, fine. But I’m not putting on any ridiculous costume, Cass.”

The next morning, as they arrived at the convention center, Cassie was practically bouncing with excitement. Briar, on the other hand, was far less enthusiastic. She crossed her arms over her chest, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. Her gaze swept over the large venue, full of booths, cosplayers, and flashing lights. People were buzzing with energy, and Briar felt like an outsider, even though she was physically standing right in the center of it all.

“Don’t look so grumpy,” Cassie teased, nudging her arm. “This’ll be fun!”

“I’m just here to watch people act like idiots,” Briar grumbled. “Shouldn’t we be doing something important instead of wasting the day in a sea of sweaty nerds?”

Cassie just laughed and pulled her toward the entrance. “Well, you’re already doing that. Now let’s go see the rest of the idiots.”

Once inside, Cassie was immediately swept into the crowd of fans, pointing out the booths, the massive poster boards for upcoming anime series, and all the different costumes on display. Briar followed along reluctantly, her gaze narrowing in on the large crowd of cosplayers who were already milling around.

“Do you even know who any of these people are supposed to be?” Briar asked, arching an eyebrow as a couple dressed as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask passed by.

“Nope,” Cassie admitted. “But it’s still cool. And hey, look! There’s a panel with the voice actors from that game you like. Want to check it out?”

Briar barely looked at the schedule before shaking her head. “Nope. Not interested. I came here for the chaos.” She gave her a sideways glance. “You know, like the chaos I bring.”

Cassie grinned. “I love that chaos.”

And that was the moment when it started.

As the pair strolled through the convention hall, Briar's slim, striking figure—her glowing eyes, dark aura, and her sheer presence—made an impression on more than a few people. She was still in her usual clothes, a loose jacket, skinny jeans, and boots. No costume, no pretense. But the way she carried herself, like she didn’t belong, somehow made her seem even cooler than the cosplayers in elaborate outfits.

“Hey, excuse me!” someone called, causing Briar to turn. A fan, dressed as a warrior from a popular game, was approaching with a camera. “Would you mind if we took a photo with you?”

Briar blinked at them. “With me? You sure you don’t want to find someone... well, less intimidating?”

Cassie, who’d been happily chatting with some other convention-goers, turned around at the sound of the request. She looked at Briar, then at the group of fans, and her eyes went wide with surprise.

“Uh... yeah,” one of the fans said nervously, fidgeting with the camera. “Sorry, we’re huge fans of your... uh... vibe. You’ve got, like, the best costume here. Are you... are you a character from something?”

Briar smirked, her sarcasm flaring. “I’m the embodiment of chaos and darkness,” she said, raising an eyebrow as she looked down at them. “I mean, that’s basically my whole thing.”

The fans exchanged confused glances before they laughed nervously. “Well, if you say so... Can we get a picture?”

Cassie, stifling a laugh, stepped up beside Briar and pulled her into the picture. “There you go! Look how cool you are,” she teased, her tone light.

Briar wasn’t entirely sure why, but she allowed them to snap the photo. The moment they were finished, more fans came up, all eager to ask about her "costume."

“How’d you make your horns look so realistic?” one asked.

“Where’d you get the outfit?” another asked, snapping a photo.

“Can you do any spells?” someone else asked, wide-eyed.

Briar didn’t know how it happened, but suddenly, she was surrounded. Everyone seemed to think she was some sort of legendary cosplayer or demon character, their questions ranging from how she got her look to whether she could cast spells or summon fire. Her usual aloofness started to crack as she felt herself becoming the center of attention—an attention she didn’t particularly ask for, but somehow couldn’t help but enjoy.

Cassie, still by her side, was grinning like a cat that just caught a mouse. She was loving every minute of it, watching as Briar tried to field questions with her usual sarcasm.

“Just don’t accidentally summon anything,” Cassie teased quietly to her. “I’m pretty sure that’s against the rules here.”

“I’m not summoning anything,” Briar grumbled. But her gaze softened, ever so slightly, as she glanced at Cassie. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Cassie nudged her playfully, her eyes twinkling. “I’m loving it. You’re a star, Briar. You should dress up more often.”

“I think I’ll pass on the whole costume thing,” Briar said with a dismissive wave, but she couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at her lips.

The crowd eventually began to dissipate, but not before Briar had posed for several photos and answered more questions about her “costume,” which she had yet to tell them was just her being herself.

“Well,” Cassie said as they started walking toward the next panel, “I didn’t expect that to happen.”

“Yeah, me neither,” Briar muttered, clearly not used to being the center of attention like that. “Next time, you can wear the horns and let people take pictures with you. I’m done.”

Cassie laughed, nudging her playfully. “You know, you’re kind of a hit.”

Briar gave her a sideways glance. “Yeah, well, I didn’t sign up for a career as a convention attraction.”

Cassie leaned in a little closer, her voice softening. “Maybe not... but you definitely make everything more interesting. And I think they like you.”

Briar’s lips quirked into a smile as she turned her gaze toward the convention center’s bustling chaos. Despite herself, she was starting to enjoy it more than she’d thought she would. Maybe, just maybe, she didn’t mind this whole “being here” thing after all.

For Cassie. And for the strange but wonderful world they were building together.

The convention had been everything Cassie had hoped for and more. She’d seen her favorite voice actor, gotten some exclusive game merch, and even managed to get a selfie with a few of the celebrity cosplayers. Briar, despite her initial resistance, had ended up being the unexpected star of the day, surrounded by fans and admirers at every turn. It was both chaotic and fun, and Cassie couldn’t help but smile at how much of a hit Briar had become, even if she’d protested the entire time.

But now? Now, it was all too much for Briar.

They’d walked through booth after booth, panel after panel, and even though she’d tried to act like she was enjoying herself, Cassie could see that the attention was starting to get to Briar. It wasn’t the attention itself—Briar was no stranger to commanding a room—but the constant questions, the cameras, the endless barrage of people who thought she was just some character from a story. It felt like it was all closing in on her.

Cassie didn’t notice at first. They were strolling through the crowd, laughing and talking, when she turned around to say something to Briar, only to realize that she wasn’t there anymore.

“Briar?” she called out, scanning the crowd.

Nothing.

“Briar?” she called again, more urgently this time, her heart picking up pace. She glanced back, hoping Briar was just lingering behind. But there was no sign of her.

She felt a sinking feeling in her chest, panic rising. Briar hadn’t gone far, but this was different. She knew Briar wasn’t the type to wander off in a crowd. She was more likely to retreat when things got too overwhelming, and that’s exactly what Cassie thought had happened.

Cassie darted toward the edge of the convention floor, her eyes scanning every corner of the massive space. Her mind raced, jumping to conclusions. What if Briar had disappeared? What if something happened?

The thought made her stomach flip, and she picked up the pace, weaving through the crowd, scanning faces. But all she could see were people in costumes, people chatting, people having fun—and no Briar.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, Cassie’s eyes flicked to the stairwell just outside the main hall. It was a small, unassuming area, almost hidden from the general chaos of the convention. Something clicked in her mind, and she rushed toward it, her steps quick and anxious. She reached the door and pushed it open, the cool, quiet air inside a stark contrast to the noise of the convention.

Briar was sitting on the floor of the stairwell, leaning against the wall. Her arms were crossed tightly over her knees, pulled up to her chest, her head tilted down as she stared at the ground. The dim lighting only emphasized how tense she looked, how out of place she felt in the sea of people outside.

“Briar?” Cassie’s voice was soft, tentative as she approached her.

Briar didn’t look up at first. She didn’t say anything either. The silence hung in the air like a weight.

Cassie knelt down in front of her, taking in the way Briar’s jaw was clenched, her expression unreadable. “Briar… are you okay?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Briar finally lifted her gaze, but it wasn’t to meet Cassie’s eyes. Instead, she looked at the ground, fidgeting with the edge of her jacket. “I’m fine,” she muttered, her voice gruff. “Just… needed a break. That’s all.”

Cassie swallowed, sensing there was more to it than that. She sat down next to her, close but not too close. She didn’t want to overwhelm Briar more than she already had.

“It’s okay if you need space, you know,” Cassie said quietly, trying to sound reassuring. “You don’t have to be ‘on’ all the time. I get it.”

Briar snorted softly, but there was no humor behind it. “It’s not that. It’s just…” She trailed off, taking a deep breath and rubbing her temples. “I don’t know. It’s like I was suffocating out there.”

Cassie didn’t say anything, letting the words hang in the air. Briar seemed to be working through something, and it was clear she was trying to sort through her feelings without letting them show too much. But Cassie wasn’t about to let her do it alone.

After a long pause, Briar finally spoke again, her voice quieter now. “I don’t know how to deal with all of that. The attention, the questions, the people looking at me like I’m some… some freak show.” She bit her lip. “I can handle it for a while. But after a point, it just gets… too much.”

Cassie nodded, her heart softening for Briar. She’d always known there was a lot more beneath the surface, but hearing Briar admit it made Cassie realize just how much Briar had been holding in. “I’m sorry,” Cassie said, reaching out and gently touching her arm. “I didn’t mean to push you.”

Briar shrugged, not pulling away but not exactly leaning in either. “You didn’t,” she said, her tone a little less harsh now. “You’re just excited. And I’m… not exactly a people person.” She finally looked at Cassie, her gaze softer, more vulnerable than Cassie had ever seen. “I’m used to being alone. And sometimes, that’s just what I need.”

Cassie didn’t hesitate this time. She slid closer, resting her head on Briar’s shoulder. Briar tensed at first, but then relaxed, letting her arm gently rest around Cassie’s back. The moment was simple, quiet. It was just the two of them, sharing a breath, the weight of the world outside pressing down but not touching them here.

“I’m not going to force you to do anything,” Cassie murmured, looking up at her. “But I just want you to know, you don’t have to go through this alone. Not anymore. I’m here, okay?”

Briar’s eyes flicked down to meet hers, and for the first time, there was something soft in her expression—a tenderness that Cassie hadn’t seen before. Briar hesitated for a moment, and then, her voice barely above a whisper, she replied, “Yeah. I know.”

Cassie smiled, and for a moment, everything felt still. In this small, quiet space, with the world outside fading away, it was just them. No fans, no crowds, no expectations. Just the two of them.

Cassie’s hand gently brushed Briar’s hair away from her face, and Briar’s eyes fluttered shut at the touch. The cool air of the stairwell was a sharp contrast to the warmth of their proximity, but somehow, it felt like everything had slowed down to a perfect, intimate moment.

They didn’t say anything else. They didn’t need to.