The Grand Birthday - Part 1

Cassius and I relished a plate of potato salad while watching a new favourite TV series of mine, Golden Yearbook. The magic screen nearly covered the whole wall, and every detail was crisp and clear, as if it was happening in real life.

“This is quite delicious,” said Cassius.

“Yep. Ah, this girl’s dress is so cute. I’m adding it to my cosplan list.”

“Ah, yes. You had explained it to me. But the list is never-ending, and I never see you writing anything in a notebook,” he said.

“It’s all in my head.”

“Right. Oh!” exclaimed Cassius.

He froze while his fork stayed in his hand, but he didn’t move it.

“What? What is it?” I asked.

“I just remembered. It is his majesty’s birthday tomorrow! He does not wish to celebrate, but I wanted to do something for him.”

I stood up, waved my arms, and ran in circles.

“I love birthdays!” I said.

“I did not expect you to have such a grand reaction,” he said, sweat dripping down his forehead.

“What can we do? We can arrange a cake, some decorations, a gift or two…” I said.

“Janessa, his birthday is tomorrow. We only have a couple of hours.”

“Yes, I know that. You just told me that now,” I said.

“Did you say something about a cake? I suppose we can get Fran to bake a cake for him. His favourite flavor is butterscotch.”

“Woohoo, great,” I said.

“That reminds me, when is your birthday?” asked Cassius.

“Oh, it had already passed when I was in Snowstar.”

“What? Why did you not inform me?”

“It feels kinda weird to announce my birthday on the very day. Anyway, it’s 17th October!”

Cassius took a notebook out of his pocket, nodded, and started jotting it down.

“Cake, check. Decorations… well, I suppose the castle is decorated enough?” I said.

“True, but we can get a balloon arch,” said Cassius.

“Yes, yay!”

I laughed in mirth and held my arms behind my back. The show was still playing in the background, and there were lots of dialogues.

“Is there anything else? Oh yes, a gift.”

“Exactly. What does he like?” I asked.

“It is difficult to explain,” he said, pausing the series.

“Why?”

“He does not speak that much.”

“Right. Hmm…”

I snapped my fingers and said, “I know exactly what to do!”

“What?”

“I’ll go undercover and ask the King what he wishes for.”

“Oh, alright. The King already knows about your powers, Janessa. I doubt he would be fooled so easily,” said Cassius.

“Heehee, leave it to me,” I said, winking with a thumbs up.

“Fantastic, let us see what you have come up with,” said Cassius.

He nodded while maintaining eye contact with me.

I clicked on my pearlscent pendant and summoned the staff. It popped out and I caught its slippery, rose gold body.

“It’s cosplay time!” I said.

My body glowed red as I flew up to the dressmaking room.

“I got it, I got it! The time I cosplayed as a male character at a con, none of my friends could recognize me. One of them said it was pure sorcery. Hehe,” I thought, aloud.

I punch up one of my fists. After putting the staff on the ground, I chose a white, high threadcount cotton and measured it to place it in a male bodice block. Of course, it had to be fairly loose. I cut it out with sparkling golden scissors. Then I measured a grey twill and cut it into a pant pattern. The sewing machine began running by itself, and soon, it transformed my pieces into two garments. I had to cut button holes, and pixies hand sewed on the white buttons.

“I feel like there’s a lot missing,” I thought aloud.

I chose a crimson silk with black, tiny grids, and sewed it into a tie shape in a mere minute. Then, I picked a light, brown tweed to cut into a long coat. Cutting out the armholes, I tried to make the bodice have a bit of overlap.

We’re not done yet! There are two secrets of female to male cosplay.

Firstly, a binder wrapped around me, and the clothes were on as usual. I tied my tie around my neck. Then, I covered my hair in a boyish-short, black, straight wig.

Secondly, I took a contour makeup stick and said, “Makeup mirror, appear!”

A frilly, full-length mirror appeared. It had golden trim and a satin bow with a rhinestone on top. I marked out the facial contour lines and blended them in.

That’s about everything.

I looked at myself and said, “Lookin’ good, Janessa! Erm, I mean James.”

My face looked as it did before, but as if it belonged to a man. My eyebrows were thicker than before, but that was the only change.

I really need to do something about the high-pitched voice. The King might recognize it.

Grabbing my staff again, my body turned back into light. Soon, I returned to the dimension where Cassius sat. He tapped his fingers on the table while looking away.

By the time he saw me, he stood up and said, “Janessa? Surely this is not you!”

“It’s me,” I said, in my high-pitched voice.

“Oh wow, I never could have imagined! You look absolutely splendid,” he said.

“Thanks.”

He grinned from ear to ear.

I’ve never seen him so happy. What’s going on? Does he have a crossdressing fetish?

“Well, I’ll be on my way,” I said.

“I have never thought anyone could look just as splendid as a woman and as a man!” he said.

“Aww, thank you,” I said, placing my hand on my neck.

“Well, carry on. Be wary of any women who might try to steal you away from me,” said Cassius.

“I doubt that will be much of an issue.”

“You can try my clothes sometime,” he said.

“Uh, yeah, heehee. Goodbye, my love.”

He waved goodbye and blew me a kiss.

Weird…

A drop of sweat landed on my neck. I left the room and went to the main entrance. Climbing up the stairs, I saw Prince Evan in the corner of my eye. He stood above me as I was on the lower steps.

Then, he bowed to someone, and I followed suit.

The King turned to face me, and so did Evan.

“Who is this boy?” asked the king.

“I do not know. Let us inquire,” said Evan. “Introduce yourself, who are you?”

How can I talk without revealing myself too much?

“Your majesty, I am a friend of Prince Cassius. He sent me here because he is too shy to inquire about a certain matter,” I said, in a low-pitched, yet feminine voice.

“Cassius, you say?” said the King.

He blinked a few times and felt his white beard. Prince Evan raised an eyebrow and exchanged looks with his father.

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Well, what does he wish to ask?”

“If you could choose anything to have in this world, what would it be?” I asked.

“Well, I have nearly all worldly possessions. I suppose something that reminds me of his mother would be ideal,” he said.

“Oh, father,” said Evan, smiling and bowing.

“Alright,” I said.

I zipped away in the direction of the movie theater.

“Where have I seen that boy?” asked the King.

“He does seem a little too familiar…” said Evan.

I went back into the theater and said, “Cassius?”

“Yes, Janessa?” he asked, yawning.

He was lying on the couch and watching a series.

“I’ll be going back to my real form,” I informed him.

He stood up and said, “Of course. It is a temporary costume, after all.”

Yeah, this dude definitely has a crossdressing fetish.

I took out the pendant from underneath, and my clothes and makeup returned to normal. My dress was black and had an empire waist.

Then, he stared at my chest that had returned to normal for ten more seconds than usual, and blushed. My face flushed at once.

“Ah, forgive me, Janessa!” he said, looking away. “I know that women hate this gaze.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s fine if it’s only you who’s staring at me,” I said.

“Is that true?” he asked.

“Y-yes, of course.”

“Truly?! You will make the perfect wife in every way possible,” he said.

We’ve gotta wait for an eternity for more physical touch. Understood.

He turned on the screen once again and began watching again. Sitting down, he would eye me down every now and then.

“Oh, wait, did you manage to get any information regarding my father?” he asked.

“Oh, yes. He wishes for a sentimental gift, one that reminds him of his late wife,” I said.

“I see…” he said, sighing.

He looked down while squinting.

“What could it possibly be?” he asked.

I looked at my own fingernails.

“It should be a keepsake of some sort,” I said.

“You are right. Oh, how about some sort of pin or badge engraved with her words?” he said.

“Yes, that’s a good one. But how will you get it done in such a short time?”

“Heh, leave it to me. I have learned goldsmithery in the past,” he said.

“Awesome!” I said.

Cassius got up, walked past me, and said, “I will be gone for some time to make his majesty’s birthday gift. Please make other preparations, and ask Fran to bake the cake or to buy it from a baker.”

“Roger that, Prince Cass,” I said, saluting him.

Cassius laughed before walking out. I walked out as well and called Fran.

“Yes, madam?” she asked.

Her hair was tied in a bun, and she wore a long dress with an apron.

“Tomorrow is his majesty’s birthday. Do you think you could bake a butterscotch flavoured cake, or would you rather buy it?” I whispered.

“Oh, how lovely. I will check the ingredients now and tell you if we have enough. If not, I am afraid we will have to purchase it.”

“No problem. Just inform me.”

She beamed as she ran into the pantry. This made me smile as well.

Just as I was about to skip across the red carpet and fetch someone to talk about the balloon arch, Fran returned while panting.

“Yes, what is it?” I asked.

“Madam, I can do it. Please give me time,” she said.

“Sure!”

She returned to the kitchen, and I nearly bumped into Evan and Kelly.

“Hello,” they said.

“Hi there.”

“Did you hear that it is the King’s birthday tomorrow? We are trying to plan something,” said Evan.

“Oh, so are we!” I whispered.

“What are you planning?” asked Kelly.

I whispered my plan to them, and they exchanged glances before smiling.

“Very well. We will leave the cake to you, and we will prepare the decorations. Right, Prince Evan?” said Kelly.

“Yes. I do feel sorry for Fran, she told us she always wanted to be a baker, not a maid,” said Prince Evan.

“It’s the perfect plan, then!” I exclaimed.

“Ah! It was you dressed as a man. I recognize your voice now,” said Evan.

I shushed him.

“What?” said Kelly.

“It is what it is,” I said, sprinting off.