Title: Characters, a CS Cosplay AU
Author: Pinkcat4569
Pairing: Emma, Killian
Rating: Teen, innuendos, adult situations
Description: Emma reluctantly subs for her friend Mary-Margaret at a fantasy/sci fi convention, promoting and selling books from a romance author. She hates the objectified, sexist characters she's asked to portray. With help from her co-actor, Killian Jones, she ends up turning the convention circuit, and her life, on its head.
Author's note. 1442 words this chapter. Final total of whole story 38, 100 words ish.
Although I call this cosplay, it's not strictly. They're more like actors working on promotions. I've only been to a couple Comic Con/Sci Fi conventions and they've been more like trade shows. Also I haven't read a romance novel in about twenty years and the couple I did read I didn't care for. No offense to the genre or it's readers is intended.
Chapter One, of Twenty-Five
Emma Swan tugged at the corset cutting into her ribs. "Why did I agree to do this?" she growled.
"Because you're a sweet woman who cares about her friends," answered the dark haired woman walking beside her.
Emma groaned. "No offense, but I'm regretting it."
Her friend laughed.
"I can't believe you actually dress up like this," Emma said, trying in vain to pull up the low-cut bodice.
Mary-Margaret shrugged. "You do a lot for love."
"Well, I don't love David. I'm not even sure I like him today."
"Maybe not," Mary-Margaret said as she patted her stomach, "but I know you love this little guy."
Emma sighed, smiling at her pregnant friend's belly. "Yeah. I'm doing this for my godson." She took a deep breath, as well as she could in the tight fitting costume. "For my godson. I can do this."
Mary-Margaret nodded. "You can."
They walked through the convention hall, crowded only with other vendors. Most were busy setting up their booths. Still, Emma got several stares, some ogling grins, and even a few lusty growls.
"It's going to be a long weekend," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Finally they found David, Mary-Margaret's husband. He was stacking a large pile of books on a small table. He looked up. "Wow, you actually got her in the bar wench costume."
Mary-Margaret laughed, greeting her hubby with a kiss. "She's a good sport."
"No, I'm not," Emma muttered. "I hate this thing," she said pulling at the tiny skirt, trying to make it lengthen over her upper thigh. "I can't believe you two would support something this sexist, demeaning, and stupid."
David sighed. "You do know that your job is to sell the character, right?" He looked dubiously at Mary-Margaret. "She won't help us push these books by calling one of the main characters 'sexist, demeaning, and stupid."
"She'll be fine," his wife said confidently. She then looked at Emma, again patting her belly. "Won't you, honey?"
Emma closed her eyes. "For the godson, for the godson," she muttered, then she nodded, took a deep breath, and smiled widely. "Can I offer you an ale, good sir?" she asked, acting like she was holding an imaginary mug.
Mary-Margaret laughed. "See?"
David sighed and shook his head. "With you on the sidelines for a few months, we're desperate."
"Thanks," Emma muttered as Mary-Margaret laughed.
David shook his head. "Here, Emma, help me hang this banner."
Emma took one side of a large roll as David climbed on a ladder. She groaned as the roll unraveled and revealed a large picture.
"Is that supposed to be me?"
She was staring at a yellow haired woman. She had very large, heaving breasts, which were barely contained in a crimson bar maid outfit, very similar to the one Emma wore.
"It's your character," David said flatly.
"Does she have to look like me, mostly?" she asked, frowning at the over abundant cleavage. "She even has green eyes."
David jumped off the ladder. "Obviously she does, Emma. We want to sell books, remember?"
Emma sighed, shaking her head. "This just gets better." She looked up at the other figure: a black-haired, thin man, with a lusty grin and twinkling eyes. "That's the other actor, huh? I don't suppose there is any chance he won't show?"
Mary-Margaret giggled, as she dragged a stool over for Emma to sit on. "Killian is very conscientious."
"He'll show."
"Great." Emma turned her attention to the large gold letters above her likeness, "The Pirate and the Bar Wench...creative title."
"Emma! For the last time, you're supposed to be selling this! If you're going to be negative and condescending, you might as well leave!"
Emma hung her head at David's outburst. "No, I said I'd help. I'll be...positive."
Mary-Margaret handed her a water bottle, "Of course you will. Here," she said, digging some papers out of her bag. "Why don't you refresh your memory of your character?"
Emma sighed, taking the papers and sitting on the stool. "I don't need refreshing."
Dave grumbled and went back to the book table.
Emma lowered her voice so only Mary-Margaret heard. "I know my part and I hate it. How can we, modern, smart, independent women support such weak, insulting, sexist stereotypes?"
Mary-Margaret shrugged. "I think of the new stroller I'm getting Junior, not to mention the cute onesies, and there's this pretty maternity gown I want." She winked at Emma.
Emma sighed. "I know, it's a job. It's just...a beautiful, naive woman falls for the blood lusty, handsome pirate with a heart of gold. Seriously? This drivel sells?"
"Rumplestilskin may be a little stale, but yeah, he does have a loyal fan base. He's really good at the intimate scenes, and what can I say? Sex sells."
Emma groaned. "I'm not selling that, Mary-Margaret."
The perky mother-to-be laughed. "I promise, it's a family show. We can get away with skimpy outfits and slightly suggestive poses, but that's it. It will be fine."
"Suggestive poses?" she asked, looking up at the vixen image of her.
"Slightly," corrected Mary-Margaret. "We won't ask you to do anything inappropriate or risky. Trust me."
Emma took a deep breath and looked at her friend. "I do." Mary-Margaret smiled. "I can do this, for Junior."
Mary-Margaret smiled brightly. "That's the spirit. You are such a great godmother!" She hugged Emma tightly.
Emma picked up one of the books they were promoting. It had a picture of a scantily clad barmaid in the arms of a bare-chested pirate. Above the figures was the author's name. "Rumplestilskin. That's unusual."
Mary-Margaret giggled. "His first story was a twist on the old Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale. Of course, he took a lot of liberties. The miller's daughter fell in love with the old, twisted guy who spun the straw to gold, not a king. He was under a spell, and when they fell in love, it broke. It was actually really good. It was so popular it launched his career, and he kept the pen name sort of in its honor."
Emma skimmed through the book. "I think he's trying to remind the public he used to be good."
"Em, that's not nice, and you can't get that from reading briefly through parts of pages," Mary-Margaret said. Then she laughed. "You're right though, and I can say that because I've read many of his books. He's stuck in stereotypes now." She gave a soft sigh. "I kind of wish we could promote another author."
"We can't," said David, "He pays well and still has plenty of readers, so get over it."
Emma made a face at Mary-Margaret. "Didn't mean to get him mad."
"Oh, he's frustrated, it isn't you. He'd like to leave Rumple too, but we're stuck. We signed contracts, making us exclusive to him for a few more years."
"Bummer," said Emma. Mary-Margaret nodded. "Do you need a hug, this time?" she asked.
Mary-Margaret laughed. "I always like hugs," she said putting her arms around Emma.
A loud shout of "Argh!" sounded. It was followed by, "Don't start the loving without me, Ladies!"
Emma winced and looked up. There he was, exactly as his depiction: luscious jet black hair, handsome face, and a very fine body clad in a ridiculously tight, black pirate outfit.
He had beautiful blue eyes too, unfortunately though, they were staring at her cleavage. "This is going to be fun," she grumbled.
"So, this is my enchanting leading lady," he said with a thick Irish accent. He bowed. "Killian Jones, at your service."
She scowled. "I don't think so."
"Ooh, we've got one with a little fire, eh?" he asked, a twinkle in his eyes. "This will be a pleasure."
"If you say so," she said, frowning at Mary-Margaret
"Killian!" David ran up to him, shaking hands vigorously. "Good to see you." He looked at Emma. "You have your work cut out for you, buddy."
"Excuse me?" Emma asked, hands on hips and an outraged tone to her voice. "Do I have to remind you that I'm doing this as a favor?"
"I only meant that you've never done this before and you're less than thrilled."
"OK, that's true," she admitted.
Killian smiled. "No worries. Everyone has a first time," he said with a lusty smile.
Emma moaned. "Save the character for the customers."
He laughed. "I always give them a show."
"I just bet you do," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Don't try it with me."
He grinned. "Oh, I love a challenge."
Emma shook her head and prayed silently to get through the next few days.
End of Chapter One