Chapter 6: The show must go on.

What looked like a large trailer from the outside was actually a stage that opened up with several workers releasing latches, and rolling in a set of stairs to the sides. "I think that's the stage!" an overly energetic Thomas said to Sephiroth, who looked a little less depressed than before. They spotted a tall and slender man in a business suit who held a clipboard as he crossed off a list of things needed to prepare for this year's ComiCon.
"All right, stage is mostly set everyone! Just need the Catwalk and we're all set. And where's my coffee?" he said out loud.

A woman, presumably his assistant, approached him almost immediately after he asked, and gave him a medium sized mug of coffee. Maple Cream making up one third of the drink, as he liked it. "Thanks." he said to his assistant after taking a sip.
Sephiroth could tell that was his favorite thing in the world just by looking at his expression as he drank.

Thomas spoke up. "Hey, I know him! That's Geoffrey."
"Who is he?" Sephiroth asked.
"He's the guy that runs the show around here. I know him because I used to be one of the judges for the show." Right. Sephiroth did remember Thomas mentioning something like that earlier. "Hey, Jeff!" Thomas exclaimed.
Geoffrey turned around. "Oh, it's you. How've you been?" he asked.
"Great!" Thomas answered.

Sephiroth simply stood by as the two of them talked for a while. Thomas showed the man Sephiroth's papers, chatted with him a bit, and finally, after what seemed like forever, Geoffrey said to Thomas "Well mister Ackerman, I think Sidney has a lot of potential in him. I mean, LOOK AT HIM! He looks just like Sephiroth!"

Because he was. Sephiroth wasn't quite sure whether or not he like the idea of pretending to be someone else, pretending to be him. He would much rather be himself, rather than pretend to be himself, if that makes sense. Finally, Thomas approached Sephiroth to tell him the good news.
"Hey bud, looks like you're in!"
"Really?" he asked.
Thomas put both his hands on Sephiroth's shoulders. "Yeah! 1st rank of rank S! That mean's you'll be going on last."

(Last, huh?) he thought to himself. (It's gonna be a while then. Maybe we could stop by that 'Gamestop' or whatever it was called while we wait...)
"So when does the show start?" Sephiroth asked Thomas.
The red-haired Thomas checked his phone. "Uh... Now." he said, swiping on his phone screen to access an app.
"What?!" Sephiroth exclaimed.
"It's 7:55, so the contest will start in 5 minutes."

Not good. Sephiroth had a few plans, and now they might not even be able to to do anything for a while. Stuck waiting for hours on end for Sephiroth's showing. Well, there was nothing stopping them from hanging out after the show ends.

Suddenly, a regal, yet gravelly voice spoke out to the two of them. "Are you two signed up for the Cosplay Contest?"
Thomas and Sephiroth slowly turned their heads behind them. A tall man in a black trench coat and fedora greeted Thomas as he extended his right hand.
(Isn't that... the same creepy guy from the lobby yesterday?)

Thomas reluctantly reached his arm out, slowly shaking the man's hand. "Y-Yeah actually. Sidney here got 1st rank of rank S." he said with a stutter, seemingly intimidated by the stranger's voice and appearance.

The man released his iron grip on Thomas' hand, which left a red mark. He must be strong, despite looking older than both their ages combined.
"Oh... congratulations. I'm sure you'll take the prize home with you." The man said.
His grin revealed mildly rotten teeth, almost yellow in color. And the stench... It was rather strong. Even Thomas was rather put off by him.

"Hey," The man said. Sephiroth swallowed nervously. "I recognize you... Ah yes, you're the man who dropped his coins yesterday. I didn't quite catch your name... what was it again?"
"Uh, Sidney Dawnstone." Sephiroth forced himself to say.
"Interesting..." The man formally bowed to the two of them. "I believe I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is, well, rather embarrassing. So I will ask that you call me Richard."

Thomas stifled a laugh. "Your name is Dick?"
"No, no. Dick merely refers to an alternate spelling of Rick. My actual name is much, much more... well, juvenile to say the least. My parents were rather drunk when they concocted my name."
Sephiroth could sense an air of danger surrounding the man. His innermost instincts were screaming at him to run. Run away as fast as he possibly can.
And yet, he couldn't. It was as if some invisible force was preventing him from moving.

"What's wrong?" asked Richard, leaning closer to Sephiroth. "You look like you've seen a zombie."
"Uh, it's just that... Y-Your outfit is..." Sephiroth invisibly trembled as he replied.

The man looked down at his outfit. "You mean my... costume? Oh, I must thank you for noticing." he said with a slight nod.
"I can't tell you exactly who I am, but..." He paused.
"I'll give you a hint; If you're a fan of 90's First Person Shooters, you'll know exactly who I am dressed as." Richard said with his rotten grin. Sephiroth thought he looked a bit old to be playing games. But then again, it wouldn't really be the strangest nor the most fantastical thing he's seen in his existence.
There existed much stranger things and events on his home world of Gaia.

Thomas leaned over to Sephiroth's ear, cupping his hand over his mouth. "This guy giving you the creeps as well?" he asked in a whisper.
"...Yeah."
"Plus, he kinda sounds like the guy from Half-Life." Thomas noted. Sephiroth had no idea who or what he was talking about.

Richard tipped his fedora forward. "Anyway, I must say 'farewell' for now. I have an errand to run." he said with a rather mysterious demeanor.
The man walked past the two of them, stopping to talk with Geoffrey for a bit before going off to who-knows-where.
"Thomas, I'm getting a strong feeling that man is trouble."
"No kidding. Did you see what was on his back? It looked like a pitchfork or something!"

A pitchfork? Sephiroth didn't notice that. It must have been hidden under his coat.
"I think I saw a gun on his belt as well... maybe they're just props?" Thomas added.
"Perhaps." Sephiroth hoped. "Even so, it would be best if we avoided him entirely."
Thomas nodded in agreement.

What was strange about Richard, Sephiroth thought, was that yesterday, he said he wasn't interested in the Contest. So why would he come here cosplaying as someone? Then again, there must have been plenty of cosplayers that weren't interested in the prize money on offer. The simple joy of dressing up as their favorite characters must be enough for people like him.

"C'mon Sid, the show's starting soon." Thomas reminded Sephiroth, halting his train of thought.
"Huh? Oh, right. Where do we go?" he asked.
"We should probably ask Jeff what to do. Maybe we'll be free to do whatever until we're up."

That sounded likely. Perhaps the two of them could grab a bite to eat as they waited for Sephiroth's turn on stage. That begs the question; what the heck was Sephiroth supposed to do once he got on there? He would get his answer soon. The two friends returned to the stage as they talked with Geoffrey for a while, preparing to participate in the Contest. Soon, the show would start. Chairs were being set up, a Catwalk was pushed into place, people were gathering, and the projectors were activating despite it being almost midday.

Sephiroth and Thomas felt as if they had reached the final frontier. This was it. No turning back now. Soon the show would start, and Sephiroth would be put on stage last. Maybe win the prize and get an apartment or something. Once this contest is over, Sephiroth thought he should travel this new world. Explore every nook and cranny, every mountain and river, every city and village! Assuming 1000 'Dollars' was sufficient funding for this extravaganza, which it probably wasn't.

As for Thomas, he thought he would head home to his apartment and play 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' with Sephiroth, whom he knew as 'Sidney Dawnstone.' Maybe watch that Advent Children movie with him as well. All while consuming pizza and soda as they played Final Fantasy 7.

Little did they know, was that very soon, something big would happen. And they would be caught right in the middle of it.