The Verbal Variant - A sequel to The English Element
Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form do I own anything to do with The Big Bang Theory (except DVDs). CBS, Chuck Lorre, and Bill Prady have that honor. I am just a fan.
Chapter 4 – The Costume Conversation
The following Wednesday Katherine was in her apartment, getting ready for Girls Night. She finished setting the table and went over to the stove for a last minute check on dinner. Penny, Bernadette and Amy were due to arrive soon and she wanted things to be perfect for the first Girls Night she'd hosted in over two months.
Knock, knock
Katherine took a deep breath and answered the door. After the four women exchanged greetings Katherine said "Have a seat everyone, dinner is ready."
"Thank goodness, I'm starved! What are we having?" Penny asked.
"Stuffed shells, tossed salad and garlic bread." Katherine answered.
"Sounds delish." Bernadette enthused.
Katherine grabbed a bottle of red wine and the pan of shells and brought them over while the others began serving themselves the salad and garlic bread that were already on the table. The women chatted as they ate. Bernadette noticed a certain wariness between Katherine and Penny, as if they were both uncertain of how to act around each other. Toward the end of the meal Bernadette turned to Katherine and said "Katherine, Howard said you've been IMing with Raj?" Penny and Amy looked at Katherine with surprise.
Katherine shrugged "Just about America's Next Top Model, we're both addicts." She blushed slightly as she answered, which was not missed by Bernadette or Penny.
Bernadette said "Let us do the dishes." and shot a glance at Penny.
Penny understood the unspoken message "Yes, it's the least we can do since you cooked."
Katherine laughed. "I won't say no to that. As far as I'm concerned the worst part of cooking is the cleanup." She and Amy helped clear the table then went over and sat down on the couch to talk while Penny and Bernadette did the dishes.
Penny and Bernadette held a whispered conversation while they rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. Bernadette began it with "Did you see her blush when I mentioned Raj?"
"Yes! Do you think she likes him?" Penny said excitedly.
"I hope so." Bernadette replied. "Raj is such a sweetie. They'd be perfect together."
"I agree."
They closed the dishwasher and joined Katherine and Amy in the sitting area of the apartment.
"Does anyone know what they're going to the costume party as?" Katherine inquired.
"Howard and I are going as Robin Hood and Maid Marian." Bernadette replied.
"Amy, how about you?" Penny asked.
"Well, as you know I don't normally indulge in masquerade, but Sheldon suggested that I dress in my customary attire and go as one of the nameless background characters that populate the fictional realm."
"That's certainly a very…unique choice Amy." Katherine said.
"Every now and again a girl just has to get ca-razy, right bestie?"
"You bet, bestie." Penny smiled at Amy.
"What are you going as Penny?" Bernadette asked.
"I'm not sure. I haven't really thought about it yet."
"Oh! I just had the best idea!" Katherine sat straight up in her set. "Penny, you would look great as She-Ra."
"Who's She-Ra?"
"Penny, please try not to make me feel old." Katherine mock begged.
"Sorry."
Katherine pulled up a picture on her laptop. "This is She-Ra." she said as she passed the laptop to Penny.
Penny looked at a picture of a woman with long blond hair wearing a white mini dress and a red cape holding a sword. The ensemble was accessorized with gold winged coronet, boots, and breast plate. "That is a cool outfit; and I wouldn't need a wig. What's her story?"
"She's He-Man's twin sister. Check this out." Katherine took the laptop back and pulled up some videos.
"She rides a unicorn with wings! I always wanted one of those." Penny exclaimed.
"Notice how she needs a phallic symbol to get any power." Amy observed.
Penny pictured herself in the outfit. Then she pictured Leonard's reaction to her in the outfit. "I'm going as She-Ra!" She and Katherine high-fived.
"Now all we need is a costume for Katherine. Did you have anything in mind?" Amy queried.
"I did actually. I was thinking of going as Barbara Gordon."
"She was Batgirl and then Oracle right? Which version are you going as?" Penny asked. The other three women stared at her.
"Hey, I've been hanging around four comic book fans for the past four years. I learned a few things." Penny said.
"I'm going as the version portrayed by Yvonne Craig in the Batman TV series."
"Ooh, then you get to wear a cute 60s outfit. Excellent choice." Bernadette commented. The other three women looked at her.
"I'm engaged to one of those comic book fans." Bernadette defended herself.
"Why don't you go as Batgirl?"
"A couple reasons. One, I'm not keen on the idea of wearing a spandex cat suit in front of my students and colleagues. Two, the committee members can't be masked."
"Compelling reasons." said Amy
"I think so." Katherine smiled.
The women discussed details of their costumes and from there the women speculated on what the guys would be wearing.
"What do you think Raj will go as?" Penny asked the group.
"Howard says he's not telling anyone." Bernadette contributed. "He has a new costume and wants to surprise everyone."
"I wonder why?"
"He probably doesn't want any of the other guys to get in his way of picking up women." Penny suggested.
Katherine frowned which caused Penny and Bernadette to exchange gleeful looks. Katherine changed the subject by saying "Now that we have our costumes settled, how about watching a movie?" They other women agreed and they passed the rest of the evening watching DVDs.
Penny drove Bernadette and Amy home after the second movie ended. She dropped Amy off first so she and Bernadette could talk. "Bernadette, you see Raj a lot because of Howard. Has he ever said anything to make you think he's interested in Katherine?"
" No, but I haven't really brought her up in front of the boys since she and Leonard broke up." Bernadette responded.
"We need to get them together before the party so we can observe them."
"Good idea. What if we all met for dinner at Leonard and Sheldon's Friday and then we girls could go for drinks and a movie while the guys played their vintage video games?" proposed Bernadette.
"That would be perfect. I'll call her tomorrow to suggest it."
"Should we let Amy in on this?" Bernadette asked hesitantly.
"No, I love her but she'd be liable to spill the beans. We need to be subtle. Also, we can't let the boys find out before anything actually happens between them. So that means you can't tell Howard." said Penny.
"All right, but you know I'm not good under pressure." Bernadette said nervously.
"It's for a good cause Bernadette." Penny reassured her.
"I know. It'd be perfect if things worked out between them."
Penny frowned. "Bernadette, how do you think they'll deal with Raj's condition?'
"I don't know." Bernadette sighed "That is a problem isn't it?"
Author note: I would love to hear any thoughts, comments or constructive criticism so please review.