Sounds of Love Chpt 29: Marumi

By Knightmare Elite

"…When I wake up, in my makeup have you ever felt so used up as this? It's all so sugarless, hooker waitress model actress oh just go nameless. Honeysuckle, she full of poison-" Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Marissa turned down the radio.

"Are you on the ph…one aga…in?" Sumi curiously asked.

Marissa thought for a moment, remembering the integrated Bluetooth. "No, I was just singing along to the radio. This was one of my favorite songs in medical school."

"Oh," Sumi flatly answered. She resumed checking the settings on her camera.

"Turn left onto Cesar Chavez Parkway. Continue on for…"

"What's wrong?" Marissa turned onto the parkway, and gently tapped Sumi's bare shoulder.

"Huh?" Sumi's red eyes swept across her girlfriend's leather clad body.

"Is something bothering you? You've seemed distant all morning. For the record, those contacts are creepy," Marissa noted.

"What if no one likes my cost…ume? Is it cute or se…xy?"

"That's a really hard question to answer. See, your costume puts you in a very precarious position. You are cute, very cute actually, and most people wholly accept that. This costume however, adds that awkward sexual element to an already questionable fantasy. What I'm basically saying is, you're going to be guilt tripping a lot of grown men into thinking they're having sexual thoughts about a fourteen year old."

Sumi's cheeks flushed, giving Marissa her undivided attention. "But, I'm not fourteen!"

The naturally juvenile pitch of Sumi's rebuttal solidified Marissa's point. "Don't worry about looking cute or sexy. We're here to have fun, right?"

"Yeah," Sumi agreed. She affixed her camera strap, gasping as the convention was in sight.

"In five hundred feet, you will reach your destination: San Diego Convention Center."

"Wow, this place is huge!" Marissa pulled up to the parking lot, amazed at the various costumed attendees walking around. She stopped and set the parking app on her phone.

Sumi came out of the car and slipped on her clear five inch platform heels. She had a long stretch and fired up the camera. "I'm so exc…ited!"

"Keep your communicator on in case we get separated," Marissa advised.

"Okay." Sumi synched her GPS with the app on Marissa's phone. "Come on."

"Wait, we have to check into the hotel first," Marissa, while opening the truck, reminded.

Sumi went back for her small roller suitcase. She found it nonsensical to bring a suitcase for only two nights, but Marissa insisted on multiple outfits. Sumi was foaming for their first night in the hotel. She would finally have her Mord-Sith.

"Tina won't be here till tomorrow. Hopefully we can meet up someplace. It's weird to be walking around in costume, no one even cares." Marissa went to the counter and greeted the clerk with a smile. "Hello, checking in reservations under Hagiwara."

"Here for the convention, I see. Just one moment," said the clerk as he checked the computer. "Ah, here we are. Honeymoon suite. I'll just need to see the credit card used to book the room and you'll be all set."

Sumi reached into her pocketbook and handed him a credit card. "Here you go."

"Oh, you're-," He cleared his throat and ran the card. "Okay, here's your room key, and enjoy your stay. Of course, with the honeymoon suite come complimentary massages and a five star breakfast."

"Sumi, I feel bad for letting you cover the hotel bill. We could split it," Marissa offered.

Sumi slipped her fingers into Marissa's as they walked. "No, I want to."

"Guess I shouldn't complain when a girl wants to spend money on me." Marissa smiled at the various costumes, smirking at a few obvious misses.

They reached the badge pick-up location, and were immediately stopped.

"Is there a problem?" Marissa asked. Her heart sank, hoping it wasn't an issue with Sumi's costume.

The attendant stood and pointed to the agiel holstered on her waist. "Convention rules, all costume weapons must be inspected at the weapons check desk in Lobby E. Once it has been checked, you'll receive a wristband to designate its clear."

Sumi squeezed on Marissa's hand and inched her camera toward the attendant. "Can you pl…ease take our pic…ture?"

"Sure thing!" He held the camera as the line eased to one side.

Marissa did her practiced stature, with both hands behind her back and legs slightly parted. Sumi wrapped herself around Marissa's arm with most devilish eyes.

"Woah, that's the best Mina Tepes I've ever seen!" A young woman stood flabbergasted next to Sumi. She was dressed in a hooded robe with thick rimmed glasses and staff.

Marissa looked over at the woman, genially smiling as she embraced Sumi from behind. It became apparent that 'staying in character', allowed Marissa to freely grope her girlfriend with shared optimism.

"Hi there. Could I get two individual pictures, and one with both of you?" the young woman asked.

"Sure," Sumi, while pressing against the blushing woman, agreed.

Marissa also handed her camera to the attendant. "You don't mind, do you?"

"The convention opened two hours ago and I've already taken over fifty pictures. It's part of the job," the attendant said. He lined up the shot and snapped.

Marissa walked over and stood next to the woman, smiling.

"Could you look a little more serious, and take out your agiel. The detail is amazing, how much did your costume cost?" the woman asked.

"Actually, it was a gift from my girlfriend's mother," Marissa admitted.

The girl was quiet as she looked Sumi over. "Oh, so you're lesbians?"

"Yes," Sumi, nonchalantly, answered.

"That's cool," she said with similar disinterest.

"Can I ask your names? I try to label all my con pictures," the girl asked.

"I'm Marissa and this is Sumi. And you are?" Marissa introduced.

"I'm Peggy, but my friends call me Spangs…long story."

It took every ounce of restraint for Marissa not to roll her eyes. "…Spangs? Um, I'll just call you Peggy, if that's all right with you."

Peggy shrugged. "No biggie. My boyfriend is going to freak. He's a huge Legend of the Seeker fan, and has to work all weekend."

"Well, at least you'll have this picture," Marissa, while standing next to Peggy, said.

Peggy squeezed between Sumi and Marissa for the group picture. "This one needs a special name. Let's see, couple pictures are categorized by couple name. Marissa and Sumi, um, Marumi! Yeah that's it."

"Marumi?" Sumi carefully repeated.

"Yeah, you know when couples put their first names together. It's your couple name. You're Marumi," Peggy explained.

"In a strange way that's really cute. Sounds like an anime character," Marissa laughed. She took her camera from the attendant, checking out their first pictures. "Wow, I look fierce."

"I li…ke it too," Sumi agreed.

"Anyway, I have to get my weapon checked before we can go inside. Nice meeting you, Peggy," Marissa said.

"Bye," Sumi said, following Marissa to lobby.

"I'm definitely not wearing this costume all three days. It'll get icky." Marissa looked down at Sumi's provocative wear. "At least your mother had the foresight to make you an alternate…"

"The sch…ool girl uni…form," Sumi, with a fist in the air, cheered.

Marissa followed the signs toward Lobby E, finally seeing weapon check. "Are all these people getting weapons checked?" The line spiraled into another lobby and Marissa groaned.

Restless, Sumi stepped out of line and began photographing attendees. In mere minutes she amassed a group of curious admirers. "Want a pic…ture?"

"Excuse me?"

Inching down the line, Marissa slowly turned toward the woman, startled in Sumi's sudden shriek. "What?" She saw the source of Sumi's excitement.

"Mother Confes…sor!" Sumi screamed. She ran up to the grinning woman in hug akin to a terrified child.

Marissa's eyes slithered across the familiar white dress in minute details. She met eyes with the woman, feeling herself smiling. "Hello."

"Huh?" As Sumi studied the woman's face, she found small nuances. "You're n…ot her."

"Your voice is adorable. No, sweetie, I'm not Bridget. My name's Carly Spensen, I'm actually a model," Carly, with hand extended, greeted.

Sumi was the first to shake Carly's hand, still blushing at the faux mother confessor. "You re…ally do lo…ok like her."

"Three years ago, my agent found my pictures on forum, saying how much I looked like her. I was curious and started posting, next thing I knew, I was at a convention cosplaying and my fanbase tripled overnight. I've read all the books, and seen the series now," Carly explained.

"So, what's with the camera man?" Marissa, while shaking Carly's hand, asked.

"It's for my website; we always film cons and try to assemble the full cast. We've only done it three times out of thirty cons. But seriously, that's a damn near authentic Mord-Sith costume. Do you mind if I interview both of you for a few minutes. My fans would crucify me if I didn't, and get some pictures, with your permission of course.

Marissa looked at Sumi, who manically nodded. "Okay then, but we'll have to do it in line until my 'totally dangerous' weapon gets the okay."

Carly took a deep breath and released as the camera started. "So here we are, day 1 of Anime Con, and you're not going to believe this!" She stepped aside, allowing a once over of Marissa. "Isn't that sick? You'd think she walked off the set."

With a camera pointed in her face, it became increasingly difficult for Marissa to stay in character. She sidestepped down the line, staring into the lens as people watched on. "Come on, I'm not the only Mord-Sith here." Marissa looked around, finding no sisters.

"I've only seen one other so far and there's no comparison." Carly touched along Marissa's woven in braid. "From the platinum, you're not Cara. You must be the show version of Denna."

"Can you con…fess her?" Sumi, with camera ready, requested.

"I can't get over that voice, it's so delicate." Carly sympathetically looked at the scantily clad wide-eyed vampiress before her. "Okay, you're at least 18 to be wearing that, and I doubt you're related, unless your parents are Asian and Spanish. Wow, a Latin Mord-Sith."

"I'm t-w-e-n-t-y s-i-x, and Marissa is-" Sumi looked to Marissa for the okay.

"Please excuse my girlfriend, she's deaf. We'd appreciate it if you didn't make a big deal about it, or…how she sounds," Marissa explained.

Carly nodded, turning back to Sumi. "So what's your name cutie?"

"Sumi Saki Hagiwara!"

"You brought out the middle name, shit just got real." Marissa stepped behind Sumi, protectively holding her before Carly.

"Well there you have it, the first confirmed lesbian Mord-Sith, and her girlfriend Mina Tepes. I can only imagine how much fanfiction you're generating! I won't keep you long, just a few questions," Carly, while posing, said.

Sumi cleared her throat, steadily crossing her arms from within Marissa's grasp. "Do it!"

"Oh right." Carla stepped before Marissa as Sumi ran to one side with camera ready. "Confession or Con Dar?"

"The Con Dar tickles my inner feminist. It'll look weird without the proper makeup and windblown hair, but go for it," Marissa suggested.

"The Bl…ood Ra…ge," Sumi excitedly whispered.

Carly stepped before the unyielding Mord-Sith. With a calm breath, Carly sharply threw her head back in a splay of hair. Her eyes closed in full concentration, opening to a maniacal stare. Carly outstretched her arm with an unsettling grin.

In character, Marissa momentarily gasped before returning to herself, empty eyes on Carly. "Command me mistress."

"Kiss the cute one," Carly ordered.

Marissa autonomously walked toward her awestruck girlfriend, kissing authoritatively. A dizzying array of flashes and applause followed their 'scene'.

"I lo…ve you so mu…ch right now," a gushing Sumi whispered.

"Save it for our honeymoon," Marissa, with a wink, whispered.

Carly checked her Twitter feed, laughing. "No way, you're already trending…at Marumi hashtag nerdgasm. Um, who's Marumi?"

"Spangs!" Sumi gasped.

"…that voice!" Carly giggled.

"You uploaded it that fast?" Marissa fretted, "My mother-."

"You're a grown woman, and I'm sure your mother won't care. I won't upload the videos till I get back to my hotel room, and have a chance to edit them. Not everyone wants to be on camera."

"It's not that I'm embarrassed to be seen with my girlfriend. This isn't the way I wanted to introduce my mother to Sumi, in the event she sees any of this. There's nothing I can do now anyway." Marissa held Sum, lost in her eyes. "Nothing matters as long as I have you."

Amidst the gasps and giggles, Sumi felt her body slacken within Marissa's arms. "You're so swe-" Her lips were taken in droplets of passion. The taut blood red leather was warm on her finger tips, thick braid solidifying the persona. On weak knees, Sumi surrendered herself to her Mord-Sith.

"Does your girlfriend always blush so much?" Carly asked.

Marissa released her panting girlfriend, turning to Carly with smudged lipstick. "Only when she's excited about something." Licking her well moistened lips, Marissa felt hot, and not just from the skin tight leather. Still, she was apprehensive about their first night in the hotel. Three days removed from intimacy all but guaranteed minimal sleep.

Sumi took out her compact, giggling at the layer of lipstick over her mouth. "Definite…ly smudge free tomo…rrow."

"So how long have you been cosplaying?" Carly asked.

"Ten years," Sumi said.

"Wow, most people only say two or three." Carly turned to Marissa. "And you?"

"It's my first time," Marissa shyly admitted.

"Don't be emba…rrassed," Sumi said. She tucked herself beneath Marissa's arm. Before the all seeing camera, Sumi struggled with her enunciations despite everyone's acceptance of her voice.

As her emotional high wore off, Marissa conjured scenarios of her mother seeing the footage. Even with cosplaying being a niche activity, not so subtle lesbian overtones would bring Marumi to the forefront. She gripped the agiel, moving ever closer to the table.

"Anything in particular you're looking forward to?" Carly asked.

"I'm just taking in the experience. Hopefully I can pick up some new series. Is it too much to ask for a story where a girl chases after a girl? The whole, innocent girl falls for loser boy is a bit overdone don't you think?" Marissa asked.

"Mo…st aren't du…bbed. I have so…me," Sumi said.

"And you wait till now to tell me?" At last, Marissa reached the desk and presented her agiel.

"You never asked," Sumi said.

"Please place your weapon on the table, and give a detailed description of its makeup," the attendant asked.

Marissa nodded and laid down her agiel. "This is an agiel that my character uses as her main weapon. It's made of wood, hand painted, and there's pressure activated tip. It makes the whirring sound when it touches something."

The attendant poked at the agiel before picking it up. He rolled it in his hands and poked the table, grinning at the authentic sound. "Okay, you're fine." He handed a wristband. "Keep this on as long as you're carrying that."

"Sure thing." Marissa affixed the bracelet, waving her agiel for the camera. "All clear."

"Cool. Anyway, I'm going to mingle, and see if we have any other 'cast members'. If we do, we can get a group picture. Want to exchange numbers?" Carly, with phone in hand, asked.

"No problem." Marissa exchanged numbers with Carly, waving as she walked off.

"She's so pr…etty, just like the m…other con…fessor," Sumi sighed.

"I'm right here," Marissa gasped.

"She's pretty, you're beau…tiful." Sumi pinched her girlfriend's shiny bottom.

Marissa swatted away Sumi's hand, weary of all the attention they generated. "Seriously, if I stay in this outfit all day, I'm going to melt."

"You can change. Later," Sumi suggested.

"Marissa Washington, doctor by day, magically endowed sociopathic bodyguard by night," Marissa, while posing for another picture, mused.

Sumi smiled, baring her fangs as a young girl ran next to her for a photo. "Awesomeness!" "She held Marissa's hand, taking a sharp turn left. "Fir…st, we fix your lip…stick. You look like the jo…ker."

Marissa touched her mouth, seeing a red smear. "I can already tell this is going to be weekend not like any other."

I think this is pointless, but I'll always ask so that one day I may actually be relevant to you. Please REVIEW.