Legal Disclaimer is on Chapter 1... this is the 6th. Chapter of Adventures In Cosplay, and it involves rejections and new beginnings.

              Breaking Away
              By Dale Speer & Brandie Flowers

              Once Fall had arrived, the members of Riverside CosplayGuard found themselves contemplating what they will do next year. "I think we should do something involving CardCaptor Sakura," Roxanne suggested, "This way people will know we don't just specialize in one or 2 series." "What about some individual costuming?" Brandie spoke up in her quiet voice. "Like Armitage or Trigun?"

              "Those are some possibilities," Dale said, "but why not consider some of the other shoujo animes, like Chance Pop Session?" "I would like to do some different costumes.. what about video games, like the Final Fantasy series?" Brandie spoke up again. "I would much rather keep with what we know," Maureen said, "It may be better for us to stick with series involving Mahou Shoujo characters." "I agree," Collette said, "It makes it a lot simpler to do what we know."

              The rest of the members, save Brandie, Dale and Kerri, agreed with Maureen on it. And since she was the boss, she determined policy. Brandie growled, then stood up. "I need to go for some fresh air," she said before walking outside and breathing in deep shaky breaths, trying to calm her breaking temper."

              A halfhour later, Dale showed up at Kerri's door and was let in, as she was one of those who didn't agree with Maureen's policy. "It seems that I was leader for a short time, ne Kerri-chan?" Dale asked her friend. "Hai, Dale-chan," Kerri replied, "Once fall came around, Maureen took back over since she knew Cosplay more than you did." During this time, Brandie sat in one of the cafes drawing out some of her ideas. Her cell was sitting on the table and a steaming cup of tea was also there. she took a sip and fummed as she drew.

              "I think we should call Brandie's Cell and set up a meeting," Dale said, "as I feel it's time for the 3 of us to break away from Maureen's group and go on our own." "Hai, Dale-chan," Kerri said as she dialed Brandie's Cell on her own.

              Brandie picking up her cell. "Moshi Moshi." She answered. "It's Kerri, Brandie-chan," she said, "I've got Dale here and we're seriously thinking of breaking away from Maureen's bunch and going on our own. Where you at?" "I'm at the Virtual Dragon." Brandie answered. "You know its my fave place to hang." Brandie laughted softly. "Its were all us techno goth geeks hang out." "Let's meet her there," Dale whispered, "I'll get my notebook PC and meet you at the door in 5 min." "Okay," Kerri replied, then told Brandie that they'll be there in half an hour. "Alright. I'll still be here." Brandie answered then hung up. She smiled and typed something in the notebook computer that sat in front of her. She nodded and sighed. "Oi, life is about to get interesting."

              Dale not only had her notebook system, but she also stowed one of the digital cameras she had in her coat pocket. "Let's get out of here," she told Kerri- and within 15min. they spotted Brandie in her favorite booth.

              "Personally," Dale replied, "I think Maureen wants the group to maintain favor with Sailor Jamboree, Barbie & Kaie- but she doesn't even know what they've done in recent years." Brandie waved up at the girls, her own notebook open and working away on something or another. "Most likely not, she is.." Brandie's voice trailed off as Kerri elbowed her. She was saying that like Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin.

              "I was perusing their sites," Dale said, "and I noticed that SJ's done Final Fantasy while B&K have done Castlevania." Brandie shook her head while pushing her dark brown braid back behind her head. "I built a few costumes from Final Fantasy 7, 8 and 10. As well as Armitage's outfit and Trigun's outfit." She smiled. "I have some pictures of me wearing them in my computer. Want to see them?" "Sure," Dale said as she was bringing up B&K's website using her wireless connection.

              Brandie brought up the pictures from where she had them stored on her computer's hard drive. "Here they are." She showed her buddies. "What you guys think?" One showed Brandie as Tifa Lockheart of FF7. One was Brandie as Irvine of ff8. One showed her as Lulu of FF10. then Armitage. then Vash the Stampede himself. "Those are some pretty good shots, Brandie-chan," Dale said as Kerri nodded her head. "Definitely some good shots," she added.

              Swinging her notebook toward Brandie, Dale showed her what B&K did over the course of the last few years.

              "I enjoyed making them." Brandie sighed. "I like their costuming and playing them. I also did a few of the other characters from the Final Fantasy games." She looked at what Dale was showing her. "Oi that is amazing. Wow." "Everyone knows that B&K are the quintessential SM Cosplay Duo," Dale said, "but they've also done other things... Inu-yasha, Castlevania, Legend of Galactic Heroes to name a few, as well as Chicago & Harry Potter." "They sure do more then Sailor Moon don't they." Brandie smirked and nodded to a few of her fellow goth geeks.

              "But 2003 was a bold turn for them," Dale said, "as they created, for the very first time, an original Cosplay for them." "Cool beans." Brandie replied, smiling softly. "Did you two want something to drink? I need another tea." "I could go for some coffee," Dale replied as Kerri said that she wanted some tea as well. "I'll be right back. I'll even bring back some cheese fries." brandie smiled as she slid out of the booth and placed her used tea cup in one of the tubs for the cups. She then went and ordered the tea and coffee and brought them back. Setting the coffee in front of Dale and one of the teas in front of Kerri she disappered to get sugar and cream, bringing them back she took her seat and added a little sugar to her tea.

              "But I'm concerned," Dale said, "Maureen, when fall came around, immediately fell into the leadership role once again... and that's what sparked my idea of striking out on our own as a trio." "Yeah," Kerri said, "Being bound to just Mahou Shoujo animes is quickly becoming dull. Dale had a good idea in doing hall cosplay from Chance Pop Session... and you had some good ideas, Brandie." "Yeah, and the ideas from me and Dale were shot down cause someone is afraid of them," Brandie sighed disgusted. "She is afraid of anything new."

              "The only thing is," Dale said, "If we move out on our own, where do we take off to? I know I have a motorhome that we can use to go anywhere... but we need a definite target." "I just got a letter from my grandmother's attorney," Kerri said, "She just passed away and had her burial expenses covered. What's amazing is that she left me her entire estate back in Columbus, OH." "Oh thats terrible yet good news Ker." Brandie looked at her friend. "How does your family feel about this?" For Brandie knew how Kerri's family could be.

              "They're angered that she left her estate to me," Kerri said, "They were waiting for her to eventually die- because she was worth at least $500million." Brandie shook her head. "Sorry Ker, but I never liked your family much. Your Grandmother was a sweet woman though. The best one of the bunch." "Don't you have some friends back in that direction, Kerri?" Dale asked.

              It set her mind to thinking- but when all was said and done, Kerri did remember that she left some really close friends back where she lived in Lancaster. "Maybe it's time that I returned to my homestate and rebegan the cosplay we hoped to gain here," she said. She really wanted to return there and set back on her efforts. "Hai, sounds like a plan to me." Brandie said while fixing her red plaid skirt & school girls shirt and sipping her tea. She smiled as she asked, "When do we leave?"

              Kerri then turned her head to Dale and said, "You know that you'll be leaving the home of your birth if you came with us to Ohio. But are you sure that's what you really want?" "I've got nothing to keep me bound to here any longer," Dale replied, "With my parents sitting in a federal prison for what they did to me, I don't have to stay here- and I can access my funds with just an internet connection." Brandie nodded. "I am an only child and my parents have been gone a long time. You all know that." Brandie smiled softly. "Lets get this show moving. Are we going to tell them or what?" she looked at her two buddies. "You know it will get ugly when we do."

              "We're not going to tell them," Dale replied, "to avoid the confrontation when we do. We'll go back to the mansion and pack up all of our costumes, including those that Barbie & Kaie gave to me- knowing Maureen, she'll claim they belong to the group." "Smart move, Dale," Kerri said, "They will never expect to see all of the donated stuff gone overnight." "Nope." Brandie smirked. "Let's go they are all out." Brandie sighed. "It's a good time." Finishing off her drink she powered down her notebook and packed it and her drawing supplies away. "The motorhome is over at my old home," Dale said, "We'll take the costumes there in broad sight of Maureen & Co., saying we're taking them to a storage unit that I got for the group." "And that's if we encounter them on the road," Kerri said, "I like your thinking, Dale." "Me too." Brandie said slinging her backpack over her back. "Lets go minna-chan time is wasting." But just then, Dale saw Gina and Chrissy of SJ enter and come to their table.

              "We heard what Maureen did to you, Dale," Gina said, "and if you're thinking of breaking away from Riverside, we're behind you 200%" "That's nice of you," Kerri said, "It's worth the effort when you have support." "You'll still have your memberships in SJ wherever you go to," Chrissy said, "and Barbie says that you've got their support in your efforts." "That makes it worth the effort," Dale said, "Thanks for the support, friends." Brandie nodded her agreement- she never spoke up much in the group. She viewed it as a wasted effort, and yesterday proved why she never said a word while Maureen was there. "Come on," Dale said, "if we're going to make our get-away, we've got to get the move on!" So the 5 departed and the 3 started out for the mansion.

              "Brandie," Dale said, "you position the cargo van at the front door once we get to the mansion and join me and Kerri in the Costume Room- that's where we'll box up what's necessary. Once they're loaded, get your personal costumes into your suitcases and load them as well. I'll drive the station wagon while tailing you 2." "Hai." Brandie nodded. "sounds like a plan." "I get it," Kerri said, "This way, everything's authentic when we make the move." So everyone did what Dale designated- and in 45min. got all of their stuff out of the house, including what they needed for the trip. They didn't meet any resistance while making their way to Dale's old home to load up everything into the motorhome.

              "We'll meet in my room when we get back to the mansion," Dale said, "and set our plans for departure tonight." "Works for me," Brandie sighed. "they will never notice we are gone..." Once back, the trio met in Dale's room- as it was the most secure one there- and Dale opened the floor for any possibilities. "I think we should leave right away," Kerri said, "after informing Maureen that you 2 are going with me back to my homestate to check with my grandmother's attorney on the estate." "Now that's an idea," Dale said, "leaving the group while doing something honest. It lets us get the motorhome and leave without them knowing our true intentions." "Hai. Done and we are gone." Brandie nodded. "I am tired of their abuse of my friendship and my skills." Brandie shook her head. "Its irrating to not be appreciated for what you do in the group." So the trio walked to the Team Room and Maureen's office, both finding them empty. "This is odd," Dale said, "but it's a good sign- we don't have any resistance when we leave." "I bet Gina and Chrissy got Maureen and friends to go shopping for new material," Kerri said, "This is our biggest break ever... and a perfect opportunity. My sedan, minna- I'll drive it while we're making our way across Nevada, then join you 2 in the motorhome when we're safely gone." "Hai. works for me- I'm definitely feeling flexible." Brandie grinned as they left to go put their new life plan in motion.

              It was 5 hours later, and Kerri had finally joined the others in the motorhome. "Ooh, that was great, minna," she said as she gave her friends high fives as thanks for a job well done. "Never one to settle for any mistakes," Dale said from behind the wheel, "that's what I always say."

              "Let's head into Lincoln Nebraska and put ourselves up for the night in an RV park," Kerri said, "We're definitely going to need some sleep and fresh supplies for the rest of the journey." "Good thinking. We really didn't get supplies before taking off," Brandie said with a deep sigh of relief, "I am glad I could bring my touring bike with us." Smirking for it was in the front of a trailer attached to the back of the motorhome, with Kerri's car securing it as well.

              "We're approaching a city with a grocery store on the far side," Dale said, "Let's stop there and get some stuff for lunch. I'm definitely thinking of cold cuts and chips." "Hai, lets," Brandie smiled lightly. "I'll agree with you there, Dale-chan," Kerri said, "cold cuts and some soda sounds good."

              By the time they were rolling, all of them chipped in for enough to where they could make it into Lincoln without stopping. Between bites of her ham sandwich Dale said, "This was our smoothest getaway possible- and now we're safe." "I wish that I can see the look on their faces when they arrived back at the mansion to find us all gone!" Kerri said with a giggle, trying to keep her salami and ham from exploding from her mouth. "They will probably not notice me," Brandie said softly, "Its not like anyone ever paid attention to me, save you two. They will notice you and Dale-chan, but not me." "And it serves them right," Dale said, "They shouldn't ignore members for having some ideas." Brandie nodded. "That and I look different," she said while laughing softly, "Maureen never liked my goth look."

              Along the way, they found a woman kicking the tires of her car- which, in this case, had broken down just outside of the Nebraska border. Dale pulled the motor home over and stopped it while saying, "We shouldn't just drive by and leave her be without stopping to help."

              Tasha raged against her machine. This was the third time it had broken down. "Road trips suck", she murmured, emerging from the depths of her engine, smudged with grease and oil. C'mon you piece of junk!", she screamed and proceeded to kick her tires. Just then she noticed a motor home pull up behind her and grimaced. 'Rapists!', her mind screamed. "Oh, c'mon Tash, not everyone is that bad", she said to herself as she waved at the people inside the vehicle.

              Kerri, Dale and Brandie all piled out- and Tasha soon realized she was facing three young woman like herself. "Need help?" The goth looking girl asked, "I'm Bran." Smiling lightly the chains of her bondage pants rattled and her tight crimson mesh top with black tank under it.

              "We saw you was broke down," Dale said, "and figured that we could help you out." "You shouldn't be stranded out here," Kerri said, "I'm Kerri, and this is our friend Dale. Are you headed somewhere?" Brandie raised an eyebrow. "I think I'm scaring her." Sighing knowing her goth gear scared quite a few people. tossing her braid over her shoulder. "I'll go back into the RV."

              Tash smiled. "No dude. Your pants rock!", she said grabbing Brandie's hand. "I was actually on a road trip with my friends, but they all like ditched on me," she explained. "Nice to meet you all." After a few minutes of talking, the newcomer said, "Oh! Silly me forgetting to introduce myself. My name's Tasha". "Oh ok." Brandie managed a small smile. "What is the problem?" "And where were you headed?" Dale asked her. She seemed happy to have someone exercise concern for her.

              "Well, I was...well, I'm actually lost," she said with a laugh, "I was supposed to be going through every single state, but now that my friends are gone I don't have enough money for that. And I have no idea what's wrong with the car. It just keeps deciding not to work". "You think we could let her in with us?" Dale asked. She knew that having a new friend or friends makes a big difference for a person. Brandie shrugged as she said, "I dont care. She don't mind my style- big plus in my book, Dale-chan." "And I agree with your line of thought, Dale-chan," Kerri said, "right now, she could use some new friends."

              So Dale turned back to her and asked, "Would you like to travel with us? We're headed for Ohio as it is, and we were going to stop in Lincoln for the night." Tasha looked at the motley crew for a moment. She knew there were risks in traveling with people she didn't even know. Well, if she was careful, nothing bad would happen. "Uh sure," she said with a shrug. "I'll call and have your car hauled." Brandie said while dragging out of her cell phone. "That is, if you want me to. We cannot leave your car here- the State Police never likes that." "Sure," she said. She really didn't want a car that didn't work, but oh well. "Thanks", she added.

              Brandie made her phone call and arranged for the towing and repair of the car that belonged to Tasha. Hanging up Brandie smiled lightly again as she said, "Done- my bud Jake will come by get your car, repair it and ship it out to you."

              So Dale and Kerri helped the young woman stow her gear into the storage compartments of the motor home. Then they piled inside and Dale turned the big diesel over and they were off again. "Ever sweet!", she said with a grin and trying not to think of the expenses it would cost her. Now she said in the motorhome with the other girls. "So, where are you all from anyways?", she asked. "Well," Kerri said as Dale drove, "me and Brandie are from Columbus, Ohio, while Dale's from Stockton, California. It was in Dale's homestate that we met." "And don't worry about expenses." Brandie said while hauling her drawing pad out and she began to sketch. "We're all in this together, and no one is going to go without." "Oh cool.", she said taking out some towelettes and beginning to wash her face when she saw Brandie sketching. "OH! You draw too!?", she gasped. Dale thought of a wonderful idea- and when she had pulled over, asked Kerri, "Would you mind turning on the TV and DVD player, inserting one of our DVDs in it?" "Sure, Dale-chan," she replied- and within minutes they were watching the anime of Final Fantasy on their system, with Dale listening as she drove. Brandie nodded as she covertly watched their new friend. She was putting Tasha in Vampire Miyu's outfit. "Ever weird- but wickedly awesome- to meet up with a bunch of anime fans," Tasha said a little while later as she watched the movie and peeked at what Brandie drew, "we-my friends and I that is-were just at an anime con in British Columbia a few days ago." She was super mad at them for leaving right after that. "Now that's a bit of bad news," Dale replied, "We just had to break away from our Anime Group." "Wha? Why did you have to do that?", she asked with an anguished look on her face.

              Brandie nodded and flipped her pad over to show Tasha. "Here ya go." "Oh wow," she grinned at the image of herself as Vampire Princess Miyu.

              She then turned back to being sad and waited for an answer. "Well, how would you like it if your leader shot down the ideas you pose to make your group better?" Dale asked her. "Or just get ignored for you're not being like everyone else," Brandie said softly, taking her drawing pad back and flipping over to the next blank page to begin sketching again. "Well, no," Tasha said tapping her chin, "I wouldn't like that much at all. I could see a mutiny happening if that happened in my group." "Well, that's what we did as a trio," Kerri replied as they were pulling into Lincoln and Dale found a motorhome park to which they could stay the night. Paying for it with her credit card, they got situated and quietly discussed with their new friend what happened.

              Tasha just looked at the group solemnly as they told their tale. Not even her friends leaving her so suddenly was as bad as what had happened to her new friends.

              "Tasha-chan," Dale said, "have you ever got into Cosplay?" "Oh yeah," she said happily, "I was CardCaptor Sakura at V-Con and Vash at Ai-Kon." "You did Vash?" Brandie asked with a smile, "Cool. I cosplayed him as well- he's fun." "Yeah he is," Tasha smiled while happily recollecting the memories, "All these girls kept coming up to me and glomping me." "And Dale got her start in Cosplay this year," Kerri said, "when we were part of what's known as RIVERSIDE COSPLAYGUARD. But when our leader shot down some of our ideas in favor of what they were doing, we split from the group." "They wanted to do the same old same old- nothing new," Brandie said with a deep sigh, "It was terrible." Tash sighed as well after hearing that. She hated it when creative differences got in the way of fun. She then went over and hugged Dale. "You know what?" Tasha asked, "I've just had a great idea! Why don't we make our own club?" "That's just what we were going to do, Tasha-chan," Dale said, "This way, nothing can get in the way of our creativity." Brandie nodded and went back to drawing a fantasy faerie creature on her pad.

              "I have a friend who is exactly like that," Tasha said, "He's totally obsessed with this cartoon that I can't even remember what it's called. He's always dragging me to his club where they do nothing but watch reruns of the show." Tasha smiled and gave a wink to the group. It was a marverlous idea. "Dale-chan is our resident Shoujo Anime specialist," Kerri said, "ever since we hooked her on PrettySoldier SailorMoon, she's been finding other Shoujo animes to add to our repertoire." "And Brandie-chan's our Gaming & Shounen Cosplayer," Dale said, "If it's Final Fantasy or Trigun you want to cosplay, she'll get you situated." "I am also into Sentai," Brandie spoke up softly, "Live action Japanese stories. Like Power Rangers."

              "Go sentai!", Tasha said raising her arm in the air until she noticed Kerri not adding... and she asked, "What about you Kerri? What are you a specialist of?" "Me," Kerri said, "I just follow my friends' suggestions." "What? You gotta be in charge of something. I vote that we'll be in charge of singing theme songs at the top of our lungs", she laughed, wrapping her arm around Kerri's shoulders and gave her a big hug.

              Brandie looked over at Kerri. "Tasha-chan has a great idea. You were always the more musically oriented one of the three of us." "We're also members of Sailor Jamboree," Dale said, "and they knew what our leader was doing- so they supported us when we left the group. So did 2 of the most influential people in Cosplay- the ones who inspired me to become a cosplayer." "You know who we refer to?" Kerri asked their new friend. "You mean Sailor Jamboree?" their new friend asked. "Nope," Dale replied. "Barbie & Kaie," Kerri added. Tasha nodded when she heard the names- then said, "Yeah. I have a friend named Joe who was telling me about them a couple of weeks ago."

              "Cool they are very sweet." Brandie said softly as she contiuned to draw, "Oh Dale-chan. I completed my Kabutoraijar outfit." "That's great, Brandie-chan," Dale said, "Well, if we're going to get an early start on our traveling tomorrow, we've best hit the hay." "They sound really cool," Tasha said looking at her watch, "Wow! It's like 2am dudes!"

              "Then let's go to bed." Brandie said softly. "4am where we're headed to," Kerri said, "Dale's right." But right before she went to sleep, Dale asked Kerri, "I know we're going to need some supplies for breakfast in the morning. Want me to get some- and mind if I took the car?" "Not too bad an idea," she replied, "and yes, you can use the car to get them." "Dale-chan," Brandie said as she popped in beside her bud, "You're not going by yourself. I am coming with you as well. Got to have some sweet snacks for the trip." "I was thinking along those lines, Brandie-chan," Dale said, "but I was also thinking of bacon, sausage and eggs for in the morning." "Then why don't the 4 of us splurge a little and go out for breakfast," Kerri said, "I think we don't have to cook breakfast- and we can use a break before taking off." "Cool. I still want sweet stuffs.. my pocky is gone..." Brandie pouts at her friends including the newest one.

              "Well," Dale said, "I'll need some help in getting the car off of the trailer, so we've best be off Brandie-chan." "Hai," Brandie replied before they went and got the car off the trailer.

              TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER...

              Remarkable Changes

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