Challenge #00338: The Return of Wark

Someone has taken a formal invitation to its logical creative interpretation and shown up/put someone else in a literal penguin suit

“I still say the instructions were a little vague,” said Rael.

“You managed tae follow them,” Shayde noted. She was resplendent in an empire-line gown in gold and white. She’d also done something with her hair that made it sparkle.

“Yes, but I know your lexicon. Others are not so advantaged. I had to field several hundred queries about your meaning.”

“And ye got paid fer it…”

“Don’t get me started on the gender binary issue. There’s more than ‘Ladies’ and 'Gentlemen’, now.”

And there he was. One of the cogniscents who had not checked with Shayde’s Ambassadorial offices and gone… creative.

It was a literal penguin suit. Not the sad, floppy, faux fur fabric ones favored by animal rights’ activists. This was a penguin suit that paid significant effort to making the wearer look like a giant penguin. There was even a highly effective beak mask to complete the effect.

“Aw. Poor lamb…”

“Penguin,” corrected Rael.

“Mind if I get 'im on me dance card?”

There were moments when Rael could never understand her. And this was definitely one of them. “Are you showing him off or comforting him?”

“It takes some effort tae pull that off. Column A and Column B.”

They cut a surprisingly good figure on the dance floor. And judging by the twitching, Shayde was explaining while seeming like she was smiling.

And judging by his smiles… he’d done the costume on purpose.

Just part and parcel of the weirdness that followed her.

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